Gearbox Publishing has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the upcoming Homeworld 3, but it's not necessarily for the reasons people might think.

When the Homeworld sequel was put up for crowdfunding on Fig, Gearbox set the target amount to only $1. This was surprising given that the real-time strategy game was a popular IP and was very likely to get much more funding from fans. In fact, the campaign has already accumulated of $560,190 of funding from 3,236 backers at the time of writing.

The game publisher has now offered an explanation as to why it only asked potential backers for a measly dollar.

Why Ask For Only $1?

In the FAQ section of Homeworld 3's Fig page, Gearbox said the crowdfunding project wasn't necessarily just about asking people for money. While the company wanted to know whether a Homeworld sequel would have a "solid foundation, funding-wise," it also wished for fans to become more involved in the game's development.

"We're partnering with Fig to give back to longtime fans who have sustained Homeworld for 20 years by giving them a chance to invest in Homeworld 3's success and help us understand the game they've been dreaming about," the game publisher said.

If the amount of support for the campaign is any indication, it would appear that Homeworld 3 is already on "solid foundation, funding-wise." However, it is not yet clear what Gearbox plans to do with the excess funds the project has already accumulated.

Gearbox's Partnership With Fig Publishing

Gearbox's team up with Fig also offers a dynamic way for Homeworld fans to support their favorite series. Aside from pitching in to Homeworld 3's development through pledges, backers can also choose to invest in Fig itself.

Fig explained that investing $500 in shares in the platform will help generate returns based on the revenues it will receive from Homeworld 3's sales. Those who will invest in the company will also receive a copy of the upcoming game once it launches sometime during the last quarter of 2022.

Gearbox is also taking advantage of the Fig campaign to ask fans to get involved in Homeworld 3's development. The company recently held a backer-only survey to find out what features and priorities they would like the game makers to focus on. The poll also asked backers regarding what they wanted to include in the game's collector's edition.

However, Gearbox clarified that the Homeworld sequel is still at an "incredibly early" stage and may take a while to finish. The company said pre-production for the game is still just a few months old at this point.