A free release of MechWarrior 4 that was to launch last summer to excited MechWarrior fans has been on hold for over half a year, leaving many of those fans to wonder if it was ever going to launch at all. Word sent over the weekend, however, reveals the cause of the delay, which we now know to be indefinite: Microsoft.
The free release of MechWarrior 4 was to be a joint venture between MekTek.net, a well-regarded MechWarrior modding community, and Smith & Tinker, a game studio founded in part by Jordan Weisman, the founder of both FASA Corporation and FASA Studios.
Though the MechWarrior IP spent time in Microsoft’s hands, Smith & Tinker reacquired the rights in 2007 after Microsoft let the property languish in favor of newer franchises. The acquisition essentially placed the MechWarrior universe back into the hands of FASA, the creator of the franchise, as well as the beloved BattleTech property.
Since that time, however, it appears legal and financial challenges have hamstrung the project.
“We had hoped that this release would be the Mechwarrior4 Free Release promised by Smith and Tinker, Inc. last summer,” MekTek wrote. “However, it would seem that the Free Release is held up at Microsoft and it is unknown to us and our Studio when the Free Release will be given the final go ahead.”
“Due to the demands placed upon us by industry lawyers to release the Mechwarrior4 Free release we were forced to insure our Studio at a premium rate to meet the Microsoft standard. Our insurance policy is a one year lease and we are unable to tap out of this policy until next fall. In addition to our insurance costs we are also struggling with our server costs.”
The free re-release of MechWarrior 4 and its expansion packs was intended to be a reintroduction to the dormant MechWarrior universe in advance of the MechWarrior reboot, which is currently in development by Smith & Tinker and Piranha Games. Though the reboot appears to be on schedule, the future of the free MechWarrior 4 release is more in doubt than ever.
Articles RSS