Howeworld is not a game that would succeed today. Why? Because it's in real 3D. Remember how you entered coordinates for movement in Homeworld 1, by first inputting horizontal movement, then adding vertical? Not something casual users would do. And how you gonna control it via a gamepad on your trusty console? And all those microscopic letters, and all the numbers, and radar blips?
Nono, for today's market, everything has to be big, colorful, stupid and easy. XCOM paved the way.
That's why nobody rushes to buy the IP. NO QUICK CASH IN THIS!