MechWarrior Online Officially Announced for Summer 2012

Brush up on those BattleMech piloting skills because the Piranha Games and Smith & Tinker reboot of the MechWarrior franchise just received its official release announcement for summer of next year. The beloved mech simulation series based on the BattleTech universe has been on hiatus since 2004’s MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf for the Xbox (we’d rather ignore the sub-par 2006 DS MechAssault game), and despite IP ownership controversy that shook development of the project after its initial announcement in 2009, the game is finally making serious headway towards an actual release.

The franchise restart will be free to play, PC-only and take place a few years before the original 1989 MechWarrior game, right before Hanse Davion comes into power. So far the developers have announced big plans to appeal to longtime fans of the series, including full mech customization; both older, hardcore simulation-style controls alongside simplified controls for new players; a return to only allowing the pilot’s first-person viewpoint along with the ability to look around and even customize your cockpit; a focus on role-based teamwork and skill-based gameplay; the ability for pilots to create, manage and customize their Merc Corp’s player base and appearance, and even the ability to pledge allegiance to one of the five great houses of the BattleTech universe and fight for control of Inner Sphere territory.

Check out the official release on the game’s website, along with PC Gamer’s interview with Piranha Games’ President Russ Bullock.

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