Blackbird Interactive is actively recruiting a Senior Gameplay Engineer for an unannounced sci‑fi first‑person action game built in Unreal Engine 5, according to a current job posting.
The Vancouver‑based studio, known for Homeworld 3 and Hardspace: Shipbreaker, is seeking senior talent to lead core gameplay mechanics such as traversal, combat, and interaction systems — an indicator that meaningful development is already underway.
This looming title represents one of the earliest public signals of an entirely new project from Blackbird, which has traditionally balanced franchise and original work. The role’s specific emphasis on Unreal Engine 5’s systems (including Gameplay Ability System, MassEntity, and Chaos physics) suggests a focus on modern graphics, robust systems design, and potentially expansive content well beyond simple simulation work.
Blackbird Interactive, founded in 2007 by industry veterans from Relic Entertainment and EA Canada, has grown into a mid‑sized studio with multiple high profile releases, including Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, Homeworld 3, Minecraft Legends, and Hardspace: Shipbreaker.
This history shows a consistent mix of franchise work and original titles, and the new hiring push for this unidentified sci‑fi project may signal another major swing into a commercially ambitious space.
The most important prior context relates to Blackbird’s control of the Hardspace: Shipbreaker intellectual property. In August 2025, the developer reacquired full ownership of the Hardspace IP from its former publisher, Focus Entertainment, and confirmed that “multiple Hardspace projects are currently in development.” This move makes the IP a core strategic asset for the studio moving forward.
Hardspace: Shipbreaker is an action‑adventure simulation originally released in early access in 2020 and fully in 2022. It gained recognition for its physics‑driven gameplay and simulation of spaceship salvaging, but did not itself become a first‑person action shooter — the genre implied by the new job posting.
This raises two main possibilities for what the unannounced project could be:
- A Hardspace Universe Expansion With Action Elements Given Blackbird’s renewed control over the Hardspace title and its community’s positive reception to the original game’s concept, one plausible scenario is that the studio is building a more action‑oriented continuation or expansion of that IP.
Since “multiple Hardspace projects” were confirmed but not detailed, a shift toward first‑person action mechanics could reflect an evolution of the universe, potentially adding narrative combat, exploration across space environments, or broader mission structures anchored in the same setting. - A Brand‑New Sci‑Fi IP Alternatively, the focus on first‑person action systems and modular gameplay architecture might indicate a completely new intellectual property.
Blackbird’s history of producing original titles (including Minecraft Legends, a strategic action game beyond sci‑fi simulation) supports the idea that it could be launching an entirely fresh franchise. Building in UE5 also aligns with industry trends toward high‑fidelity, cross‑platform AAA experiences.
Both interpretations fit known facts: Blackbird is already pursuing ambitious plans with the Hardspace universe while also continuing to innovate outside of its existing catalog. The job posting’s technical emphasis suggests that designers and engineers are shaping foundational systems, which often occurs well before any public reveal or marketing push.
Data points back up the seriousness of Blackbird’s plans. After reacquiring its Hardspace IP, the studio launched the LYNX Pioneer Program, a community initiative to involve players in future content and playtests — a mechanism typical of larger, community‑engaged development cycles.
Looking forward, the new senior engineer role could be a key early indicator that Blackbird will announce this unannounced sci‑fi action project in the next 12–18 months — possibly at major events like Gamescom or GDC — especially if it involves a new direction for the Hardspace universe or a fresh franchise aimed at broad AAA audiences.
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