"Homeworld" is listed by review aggregator Metacritic as the highest rated computer game of 1999, and the fourth-highest on any platform for the year. Critics praised the game's graphics, unique gameplay elements, and multiplayer system, though opinions were divided on the game's plot and high difficulty. The game sold over 500,000 copies in its first six months, and received several awards and nominations for best strategy game of the year and best game of the year. A release of the game's source code in 2003 sparked unofficial ports to macOS and Linux, and three more games in the "Homeworld" series have been produced: ' (2000), "Homeworld 2" (2003), and ' (2016). Gearbox Software purchased the rights to the series from then-owners THQ in 2013, and released a remastered collection of "Homeworld" and "Homeworld 2" in 2015 for Windows and macOS which was also highly regarded. Gearbox announced the fifth game in the series, "Homeworld 3", on August 30, 2019; the game development is being crowdfunded through Fig, and is slated for a Q4 2022 release.