Freelancer's Homeworld: Rise of Hiigara Lets You Command the Fleet While Your Ship Is Docked

Freelancer was built around the experience of being a pilot. You take jobs, explore systems, trade cargo, and occasionally find yourself in a fight you probably should've avoided. But what if your ambitions extended beyond the ship you're flying?

Homeworld: Rise of Hiigara, from josbyte, is bringing a much larger sense of command to that experience. Its latest beta introduces an RTS-style view that lets players direct fleets while docked, combining Freelancer's cockpit-level adventures with the broader strategic management associated with Homeworld.

Production, research, and economic systems support that larger role, alongside four kiith factions, additional regions, and new trading opportunities. The update also adds a 3D galaxy view. We especially like the idea of returning to a station and having an entire fleet to manage rather than simply deciding where to fly next.

This is still a testing beta, and the installation deserves some attention. Players need the original Freelancer, a copied Freelancer HD installation, and the project's separate engine package. The creator warns that leftover system files in that copied installation can cause crashes, so following the current instructions is important.

There's plenty left to develop, but the combination of individual spaceflight and fleet command gives Rise of Hiigara a compelling direction. Being a successful pilot is one thing. Running the operation behind an entire fleet is another.