Well, it’s almost time. We’re finally getting a single-player MechWarrior game for the first time in almost 20 years. Developed by Piranha Games, the same studio behind MechWarrior Online back in 2013, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will release on December 10. Check out the launch trailer below.
I spy some big robots
The MechWarrior 5 trailer doesn’t offer up anything besides some Mech-on-Mech violence, but boy does it look nice. And there are a few familiar faces in the crowd. What looks like a Firefly shows off its rapid movement speed. An Assassin tries to get the drop on a squad of Urbanmechs but eats a barrage to its torso. An Atlas sits menacingly in a Mech bay. And the colossal King Crab does its best Godzilla impression as it smashes through a city. And hey, it looks like we’ll get ragdoll physics for Mechs for the first time ever. I’m going to make sure I fight a lot of battles near dramatic cliff faces for the full ragdoll experience.
Additionally, the destructible environments in MechWarrior 5 look pretty amazing. The cities do appear a bit small, but watching a building collapse while two giant Mechs duke it out is a childhood dream of mine. And it’s just plain satisfying to see the way Mech limbs shatter under the impact of an enemy’s weapons. The flames and flying metal should add some immersion as your lasers tear apart an enemy.
It’s the merc life for me
As the title suggests, you play the role of a mercenary in MechWarrior 5. Players will travel from system to system looking for jobs or seeking repairs. You’ll also have the opportunity to retrofit your Mechs in your ship’s Mech bay. That’s also where you’ll optimize your loadout, which I’ve already proclaimed the most fun part of any MechWarrior game. Each mission will see you leading AI-controlled allies or up to three friends in co-op mode.
You can pre-purchase MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries exclusively on the Epic Games Store for $49.99.
