MechWarrior 5 gets delay, closed beta, Epic Games Store exclusivity

In the middle of 2018, Piranha Games delayed launching MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries into 2019. Then they aimed for a September 10 launch date—but it's time to push the launch back further. The highly anticipated robots-with-lasers simulator will now launch December 10.

Sorry to hear about the additional three-month delay, bt MechWarrior 5 could apparently use more time. For games in active development, this is perfectly fine. Rarely do players lose out when a game that requires more development gets the development time it needs. Hey, it's been 17 years since the last MechWarrior game. Three more months won't kill anybody. So, in conjunction with this delay, Piranha has two important announcements:

One, MechWarrior 5 is now going to be an Epic Games Store exclusive. Do you think Valve's 30% cut on selling video games in their storefront is questionable? Guess what: so do an increasing number of game developers. Plus there's the large sum of cash Epic Games hands over to developers for these exclusives. This big bag of money undoubtedly gives Piranha the funds and ability to make MechWarrior 5 a better game during the three-month delay. But if the Epic Games Store still doesn't work for you, hit the jump down below for details on how to go about getting a refund. And two, MechWarrior 5 is giving pre-order customers a closed beta in November, the month before launch. 

So there it is. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries closed beta in November, with a launch on December 10 in the Epic Games Store. 

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries Coming Exclusively to the Epic Games Store on December 10, Closed Beta Planned for November

VANCOUVER – July 25, 2019 – Developer Piranha Games today announced that MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, the classic series’ first single player campaign-focused entry in more than 17 years, will now drop into battle on December 10 exclusively on the Epic Games Store. Community preorder pilots will be able to run practice missions in November via a closed beta ahead of the game’s full launch.

“Our partnership with the Epic Games Store allows Piranha the opportunity to make sure MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries meets our internal goal of creating the best MechWarrior game possible,” said Russ Bullock, executive producer. “Since we announced the development of the first single-player MechWarrior game in 17 years, we have stated that our goal was to deliver to fans a MechWarrior: Mercenaries experience with true freedom of choice and to be able to share that experience in a co-op setting.

"Understandably some fans will be disappointed that they have to wait a short while longer for MechWarrior 5, but it’s important to Piranha Games that we absolutely get this right. We are happy to say that our new partnership with Epic Games store allows us the time and ability to accomplish our goals both in the games development and marketing efforts.”

Fans looking to obtain refunds from their pre-order of any tier are able to do so by September 1. Pre-order refunds of any tier will be refunded in full. Additionally, fans seeking refunds will be able to keep all bonus MechWarrior Online content from the Standard, Collector, and Ultimate Editions of the pre-order, which amount to $100, $180, and $300 dollars worth of in-game currency and content for MechWarrior Online, including all bonus items like XP, premium time, badges, decals, cockpit items, and more, depending on which pre-order tier they purchased. Refunded pre-orders will be unable to participate in the upcoming closed beta for MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, now scheduled for November as well as lose the exclusive MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries DLC items.

More detailed information on announced features coming to MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries can be found at the game’s FAQ: https://mw5mercs.com/faq.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is modeled after the gameplay style from MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries, granting players the freedom to run their campaigns how they choose. In MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, pilots will build, manage, and guide their own mercenary unit through a multi-year campaign during the sprawling Third and Fourth Succession Wars enjoying by far the greatest amount of player freedom and choice compared to past titles.

Whether braving missions alone, alongside AI-controlled pilots, or with the help of up to three friends via co-op play, pilots will face complicated situations with no perfect solution as they choose which contracts to accept, where in the Inner Sphere to direct their attention, and how to balance repairs or upgrades with maintaining their unit’s precious resources.

To stay locked onto the latest MechWarrior news, visit the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (https://mw5mercs.com/) and MechWarrior Online (https://mwomercs.com/) websites, or follow Piranha Games on Twitter through @PiranhaGames (https://twitter.com/piranhagames) and @MechWarriorF2P (https://twitter.com/Mechwarriorf2p).