MechWarrior 4 Cleared for Free Release

News
By Marcus Yam
published

Old school PC gaming for free, coming soon.

Remember MechWarrior4? That game is fondly remembered by many PC gamers. Those who want to live the nostalgia but don't have the original media or the setup required to play the classic will soon be able to get it all for free.

While it was originally announced last summer, MekTek today announced that Microsoft's legal department has cleared the free release of MechWarrior4.

MekTek wrote in an update:

If you've been following the drama surrounding the free release of Mechwarrior4, than you would be aware that the initial announcement, made last summer, was a bit premature. After nearly a year since the announcement came, MekTek Studios is pleased to announce, that Microsoft Legal has given the all clear for the free release of Mechwarrior4. This hallmark movement by Microsoft Games couldn't come at a better time, as the Mechwarrior community is attempting a rebirth, amidst announcement of a Mechwarrior Reboot. Thank you Microsoft.

Stay tuned for news of the release launch as it nears.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
48 Comments Comment from the forums
  • liquidsnake718
    Wow, what an old school game. Wasn't this on the consoles first?!? I had Mechwarrior 1 on the Super Nes! This game was cool and ahead of its time. Of course it borrowed from Robotech and Gundamn, but its a mighty fine mech game. I guess following this release we will eventually see a Mechwarrior 5 or something in the lines of a mechwarrior themed game this year!
    Reply
  • kriswitak
    I can't wait for the new MechWarrior series. With new graphics engines, and destructible environments, these games will promise to be a breath of fresh air in the ever bloated franchise of FPS gaming. Man, it will be awesome, I hope.
    Reply
  • fisshy
    Cool! I loved MechWarrior4! Does this mean maybe MechWarrior5? That would be legend! :)
    Reply
  • nottheking
    9202720 said:
    Wasn't this on the consoles first?!? I had Mechwarrior 1 on the Super Nes! This game was cool and ahead of its time.
    No, MechWarrior 4 was PC-only, as was MechWarrior 3. MechWarior & MechWarrior 2 were both available on consoles a while after their initial PC release. (in the case of the former, it came out on the PC in 1989, with the SNES version coming out in 1992, if memory serves.

    9202720 said:
    Of course it borrowed from Robotech and Gundamn,
    Actually, MechWarrior was based in the BattleTech universe, which actually pre-dates RoboTech. (1984 vs 1985) I think it's a bit unrelated to Mobile Suit Gundam, which pre-dates both of the others (1979)
    Reply
  • tweakbz
    MechAssault 1&2 were on original xbox.
    Reply
  • rockstone1
    Mechwarrior IS battletech, indeed- Mechwarrior is a profession in the Battletech Universe.

    As someone who checks Mektek every day- I'm glad that more people are hearing about this. Maybe the servers will be full again!
    Reply
  • rockstone1
    liquidsnake718Of course it borrowed from Robotech and Gundamn, but its a mighty fine mech game.
    Again- this is incorrect.

    Mechwarrior is based in the Battletech Universe- using it's mechs and storyline.
    (of course- you're right in that Battletech shared some ideas with Gundam and Robotech)
    Reply
  • LORD_ORION
    MechWarrior IV is terrible. So much consolitis.
    Reply
  • Nowa
    9202724 said:
    Cool! I loved MechWarrior4! Does this mean maybe MechWarrior5? That would be legend! :)


    Yes. You could say that the Mechwarrior 4 free release was/is a publicity stunt of sorts. It was announced around the same time with the trailer of the upcoming new MechWarrior game, by Smith and Tinker INC. Lets just hope it will be at least as good as the rest of the series.
    Reply
  • dwave
    Actually, the designs were based on Super Dimensional Fortress: Macross (1982), which later was added to two other series to become Robotech. In the series you will find: Rifleman, Warhammer, Stinger, Wasp, Marauder, and maybe some others but I can't think of them at the moment.
    Reply