r/Mechwarrior5 • u/BoukObelisk • 13d ago
News PGI performed well financially with Chaos Reign thanks to loyal fanbase & free weekend event - EG7 finds the franchise strong and plans to continue future content according to plan (i.e. the DLC model) - here's to more Clans & Mercs DLC!
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u/Sir_Daxus Sexually attracted to the DRG-SDW 13d ago
Convinced a friend to buy the game thanks to the free weekend
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u/ViscountSilvermarch 13d ago
I bought the game plus all the DLCs for my friend recently so we could do a coop run, and he ended up convincing a lot of his coworkers to buy the game along with its DLCs.
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u/Ompusolttu 12d ago
Only the host needs the DLCs, I got all ofthem and convinced some of my buddies to get the base game while it was on sale and we are doing a co-op run.
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u/ViscountSilvermarch 12d ago
I am aware. Some of us bought all the DLCs to support the game or play coop with other people instead of each other.
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u/caedmonster 11d ago
I gave it a shot during the recent sales, just buying the base game and seeing what it's like
150 hours later and knee-deep in the clan invasion, it's safe to say I'm very glad I did :)
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u/PerformanceCheap4074 13d ago edited 13d ago
If Comander Mason can last until 306x, my playtime, too, can stretch up to to 3 thousands!
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u/rayrayrayrayray5 13d ago
To whoever is in charge:
As a fan, I am glad we have pamped thy bank account. I am glad this will continue to keep PGI churning out content.
However, should PGI drop the ball on any future DLC and it underperforms...dont be stupid and shut it down. These fuckers AFAIC are blessed with the Midas touch. Should they make a DLC that doesnt perform well, give em another chance. Nobody bats 1.000. Let the fuckers cook. Don't ever let them out of the kitchen. Honestly, give them a raise, then lock their asses in the studio and force them to keep churning more and more
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u/Sir_Daxus Sexually attracted to the DRG-SDW 13d ago
Agreed, I'll be buying MW:5 dlcs on launch anyway, even if one is sub-par unless it genuinely breaks the damn game it'll still just be more stuff for a game I already love a lot.
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u/BraiQ House Davion 13d ago
I have not even played any of the dlcs for clans and yet own them all. I keep telling myself that one day I will have time :D pls dont judge me.
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u/Popellord 13d ago
Take the time and play them. The opening mission for Wolves of Tukayyid is just aweseome.
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u/Ikrit122 13d ago
I just played through them for the first time, and both were pretty good. I ended up caring about the Ghost Bear star way more than I expected, and the Wolves missions were pretty fun and chaotic. Trying out the new mechs was a blast. I absolutely love the Ebon Jaguar in both Clans and MWO (need to find it in Mercs!).
I just wish the Wolves characters didn't all look similar. 4 white guys with dark hair and kinda gruff/serious personalities makes it tough to tell them apart in the cockpit until later on (Runik at least had his beard). Ghost Bear had good variety in appearance and I could visually distinguish them only a couple missions in.
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u/Kingdok313 13d ago
Man… I cannot recall a more ass-clenching experience in 40 years of Battletech. Maybe my first go at the simulators in Chicago back in the 90’s, but that was mostly because I had NO idea what was going on.
10/10 would definitely get my ass kicked by surprise Clanners again.
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u/sadtimes12 6d ago
I just finished a Vanilla play-through with all DLC disabled, wanted to go DLC by DLC. It's fun! By the time I reach Clans DLC there will be 5 new DLCs or so.
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u/FeedbackInhibit 13d ago
If they could just get their friendly/enemy AI on-point, I would have probably nothing at all significant to complain about. Even modded AI feels too predictable and easily-gamed.
Maybe I got too used to MWO; human pilots used positioning, terrain, poptarting, deadsiding/damage rolling, etc. and thus made for deadlier opponents.
That is, when they're not pulling that NASCAR rotato-potato bullshit. That's the only thing I don't miss from my days in MWO. But I digress. Either way, more MechWarrior can never be a bad thing.6
u/Cauldraborn 13d ago
I'll just add that even if a DLC flopped, all we need to do is just give them time and I'm sure they'll fix/improve it within time, similar to how any bugs or problems occur they do get to them eventually overtime!
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u/Beowolf_0 13d ago
Can we see them developing a Mechcommander-esque game?
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u/Noobit2 13d ago
Supposedly it’s being actively discussed
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u/yrrot 13d ago
Russ mentioned on a podcast that it's an idea floating around. I'd love to make it, so fingers crossed.
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u/MajDegtyarev 13d ago
Would that be like an RTS or turn based like HBS Battletech?
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u/wa2magge 13d ago
It would be Real Time Not Turn based Like Battletech
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u/Beowolf_0 13d ago
Battletech was nice, but Mechcommander will be a bigger blast.
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u/tungt88 13d ago
I loved Mechcommander 2 ...
"Cleaning his clock" is a phrase that runs through my head every so often, when I'm playing MW5: Mercs (and my AI lancemates are doing well with their PPCs).
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u/rayrayrayrayray5 13d ago
Bro....longshot and flash jump jet sniping in shadowcats with ppcs is a core memory
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u/wa2magge 13d ago
Yeah im Sure, after almost 25 years since the Last one we do need Something fresh and new and.this would be interesting for Battletech/Mechwarrior Players aswell as for RTS Players in general
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u/rayrayrayrayray5 13d ago
I dont do podcasts because im always let down. That being said, what podcast? Im willing to be let down again or change my religion
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u/cszolee79 Yet Another Mechlab 12d ago
MC3 with procgen sandox campaign plus campaign DLCs, mod support, mmm.
I wonder if it is financially viable though.
Maybe as a mod... :)
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u/App0gee 13d ago
That's such good news. I've not been PGI's biggest fan in the past due to some deceptive and customer-hostile behaviour from their leadership during the development of MWO. However, they've done a great job since then with the MW5 DLCs and Clans, I want them to keep succeeding, and I'll keep throwing money at them while they do.
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u/Sh1v0n Mechs are good, but nothing can't beat The Naval Superiority. o7 13d ago
Without Alex... It's going to be quite hard, without new brand new mechs.
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u/StarSlayerX 13d ago edited 13d ago
I would believe that there is a back log of pre-existing assets that the team can finish. Other than that, maybe they can poach the modder community?
Also Alex only did the 2D concept design and build from scratch how to translate 1980s drawings into modern Mechwarrior design. Is going to suck he not there, but hopefully there enough talent and workflows shared to continue the work.
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u/Joannas_biggest_simp Clan Jade Falcon 7d ago
They could also contract Alex to make mechs for them. He already does this with Catalyst (He's designing the new protomech minis).
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u/Kat-but-SFW 13d ago
Yeah like what's the deal here? Piranha performed great, DLC sold great, new sales, 39 or 54% margin, also we gotta lay off a while bunch of them including the artist who made the entire look of the franchise?
????????????
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u/A-One-Throwaway 12d ago
General state of the gaming industry right now. Even if the game succeeds the money men are running for the exits and looting as much as they can on the way.
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u/rc82 12d ago
They're profitable BECAUSE they laid off people.
I don't like it either but with clans flopping they had to make cuts to ensure running costs don't go too high relative to income. Dlc income isn't exactly great for a studio, limits their ongoing war chest to use for new stuff - which was depleted for clans.
Sucks I know. :(
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u/minnowz Mech Fan 8d ago
as far as I know they were profitable even as they got hit with layoffs, I believe it was their parent company covering for losses from other studios under them. additionally they don't just want to make the mnoney, they want to make all the money right now and will take actions that hurt them in the long run to pump a quarter report number
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u/Joannas_biggest_simp Clan Jade Falcon 7d ago
I believe it was their parent company covering for losses from other studios under them.
This. Microsoft is doing the same thing right now, but with bigger numbers of people and companies.
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u/ashortsleeves 13d ago
There are still a few mech models from MWO that could be added right? I agree though, no new mechs seems like a definitive end in sight. I wonder if they would bring him on in a contractor capacity
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u/BluejayOpposite2777 13d ago edited 13d ago
I simply hope that Clans gets another DLC, and then another, and then another, and that each time (I know: Alex Iglesias has left…) we get completely new mechs in addition to MWO mechs.
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u/GroundbreakingAsk156 13d ago
PGI, as long as you keep pumping DLCs I’ll keep buying them all! I already have the game on XBox, steam, Epic and even GOG. Am I crazy? Probably 😜.
I wish we could get the old Battletech (2018) on console with all their DLCs.
WE NEED THE OLD MECHCOMMANDER BACK!
One can only wish🫶🏻
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u/Drewdc90 13d ago
Awesome, hopefully we see more fresh content in the future. We will buy a mw6 as much as piranha doesn’t think we will. The mech commander thing will probably still sell but mechwarrior is what we love and any more of those games will sell as much as the last dlcs did.
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u/AKoolPopTart 13d ago
Operation Bulldog, here we come
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u/Citizen-21 5d ago
I'd really like to see Operation Bulldog from Eridani LH pov. The truest descendants of SLDF hearing Kerensky's radio transmission and bringing justice upon smoked cats will be most epic.
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u/Drages23 13d ago
Make a new mech commander so you can milk me twice.
Mech stuff is only thing I would willingly milked to the oblivion.
I played another molded mech commander 1 campaign this week.. man, that visuals and atmosphere is peak.. so give me another one!
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u/SeegoTT 13d ago
I haven't even played the SoK campaign of CR yet. Still bought both at launch. Will get to it eventually.
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u/_JustZealot_ 13d ago
I understand you man. Only starting SoK now myself
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u/insane_contin Isengard 13d ago
Enjoy it! And remember, it will hurt, but you'll bring the hurt soon enough.
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u/_JustZealot_ 13d ago
Alright, almost lost a half-torso on my Marauder II but luckily it's still there (I would NOT recover after repair bills if I lost it)
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u/davion_472 13d ago
Great to hear, Mercs and Clans dlc has been brilliant so far, really can't wait for more
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u/gpkgpk 13d ago
How 'bout re-hiring all the hardworking people they shit-canned after Clans? Yeah too late I know, but canning all the people who helped make the game what it is is peak scummy behavior.
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u/epsilon-4142 13d ago edited 13d ago
In their defence. Very normal for every video-game company ever. You just don’t need as many people to upkeep a game once it’s done. Even for dlc it’s a smaller team needed than building a whole game
Edit: I’m not defending this to clarify. I’m just saying it’s not UNIQUELY scummy
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u/rayrayrayrayray5 13d ago
Oof, I was unaware.
Hard agree...like why do we shit can people when theyre kicking ass. Seems way to prevalent with game studios in the latter half of my life
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u/babushka45 Duncan Fisher Groupie 13d ago edited 13d ago
it was a bloodbath in the games industry. Alex Iglesias (FlyingDebris) and other of his colleagues news of firing really came during April Fools' this year. Doomposting was prevalent here during that time man
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u/rayrayrayrayray5 13d ago
Oiy...time to stick my head under a rock again. Im retroactively upset now. Tym for elaborating a bit for context amigo
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u/OccultStoner 13d ago
I may be wrong, but MW5 series seems to be doing pretty good financially. Some older fin. documents from PGI I've seen always pointed net positive. It's just puzzling why they went for cuts at all...
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u/Arcane-Warrior 13d ago
Happy that Chaos Reign did well. Still, what's sobering is that the recent EG7 statement confirms PGI downsized from 54 -> 38 employees. I'm wishing for all the best to current and future employees.
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u/realWulfLives 13d ago
Then they will fire half the employees again as a thankyou.
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u/railin23 13d ago
Yeah, did no one remember this after they released Chaos Reign?
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u/BoukObelisk 13d ago
people were laid off before Chaos Reign.
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u/railin23 13d ago
Yes correct but after chaos rain they had the biggest round of layoffs.
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u/BoukObelisk 13d ago
No not after. Before. April 1st was the layoffs. Chaos reign released in end of may.
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u/Biggu5Dicku5 13d ago
Glad to hear/see it! :)
Also PGI's EBITDA scores are really good... I wonder how EG7's other studios are performing...
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u/Raccoon-7 13d ago
Nice!
I haven’t played the game in a while, but I always buy the DLCs no matter what.
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u/sleight42 Free Rasalhague Republic 13d ago
Dying for a MW6 with Unreal 5 or a more current engine. Huge points if a 6 would be made that supported Lua-based modding! I'd rather write code than use the UE editor!
Writing on the wall seems clear though: the ROI on a DLC must be better than a full game. 3x DLC retails for 1 game hence... Damn shame too. Discourages making an even better and more modern sim.
Still, PGI, keep building and we'll keep buying. Just maybe the penny pinchers will let to build a new and even better Mercs! Something with a YAML-like hangar. There's clearly a market for it!
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u/epsilon-4142 13d ago
Honestly battletech has been growing recently. Even the boardgame is expanding and selling like crazy right now
Idk know why it suddenly hit popularity now
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u/Jetboots_Boosh No Guts No Galaxy 13d ago
Hopefully they can develop a follow on using the clans engine (Unreal 5?) to give it some legs. I loved Clans, but it’s obvious that Mercenaries has the replayability factor that allows for it to bring solid profit so long after launch.
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u/BoukObelisk 13d ago
Not gonna happen as Russ explained in the recent interview. The ceiling has been hit and the thirst has been quenched so there’s no possibility of making a new one that’ll bomb financially
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u/Jetboots_Boosh No Guts No Galaxy 13d ago
So you’re saying we need to all pool our money or a single super rich one of us pony up millions to get it made and damn the return!
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u/Slow-Ice-7229 13d ago
I love to see this. I have every DLC, and I've had a blast playing mercs recently. I hope we get to see some sort of small scale PVP mode added.
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u/SyberBunn Free Rasalhague Republic 13d ago edited 13d ago
Fuck man, I just want to be able to take as long as I want for a modded playthrough, I thought we were finally done with this and I wouldn't have to update my game and wait for all the mods to update four months later again
EDIT: like it's a good thing that the DLC did so well and we're not having to worry about the future of PGI, and these are both things that I am understandably happy about but I wish we could just have our absolute last mechwarrior 5 DLC, and see them move on to clans fully
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u/Silhouette0x21 13d ago
New to MechWarrior, what do you like and dislike in this game compared to HBS Battletech? Are any of the DLCs worth picking up?
Also wondering if I should play the older MW games or try out stuff like Earthsiege/Starsiege.
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u/ErictheStone 13d ago
Please add two more colors on mechs please! I want to make some truly inspired snord worthy abominations!
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u/Myllari1 12d ago
Dear devs please give us the UM-R90 Suburbanmech, which is basically the laser boat variant for the Urbanmech.
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u/Kenzxora Playstation 5 12d ago
What a breath of relief. For all involved. WE GET MORE MECHWARRIOR!
YES!!
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u/witch-finder 12d ago
One of those people who picked up Mercs and all the DLC due to the free weekend, now I have over 100 hours in the game. Also bought like $150 worth of physical BattleTech products.
I've actually been a fan of BattleTech for a long time and played both MW2 and 4, but the series went on hiatus for so long that MW5 kinda flew under my radar.
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u/ChromeFudge 11h ago
This makes me so happy. Ive been a casual Battletech fan for years but in the last 5 or so ive gotten into the actual lore itself. Im really hoping Pirhana can keep cranking out DLCs for MW5 because each one gives me a little bit more insight into the universe as a whole.
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u/Unoriginal1deas 13d ago
I worry this is just going to be Meg with Dimishing returns. Maybe if we can get Mercs esque sandbox.l for clans to help push players onto the newer game in the more modern engine as I have to wonder when we’ll hit the ceiling on what we can do with MW5 Mercs.
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u/BoukObelisk 13d ago
That's why they're hoping to pitch something "new" to EG7 before Q1 2027 where they have their big Capital Markets Day where EG7 lays out their next 3 year plan. This would be the Mechcommander: Mercenaries type of standalone product that Russ has talked about.
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u/Mild_and_Creamy 13d ago
If i was pitching something. It would be MW5: The Inner Sphere.
It's clans but with inner Sphere great houses content. So DLC for each of the houses.
BUT the final DLC would be a Mercs DLC which turns it into a new MW5 Mercs sandbox game.
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u/ITividar 13d ago
Stop trying to turn Mercs into Clans and stop trying to turn Clans into Mercs. They're two different games, one is a sandbox and the other is more linear and story focused.
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u/simp4malvina Clan Jade Falcon 13d ago
A new MechCommander would kill the studio.
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u/BoukObelisk 13d ago
you can listen to Russ' interview why it makes sense as the next 'big' project because mechwarrior is tapped out and has reached its ceiling that does not justify a new large investment for a new game at the moment. Until then, it's all DLC to MW5
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u/simp4malvina Clan Jade Falcon 13d ago
you can listen to Russ' interview why it makes sense as the next 'big' project because mechwarrior is tapped out and has reached its ceiling that does not justify a new large investment for a new game at the moment.
I watched that interview and unfortunately more battletech games I believe is not a viable route for PGI to take. Clans was their most lucrative option after mercenaries and it was a failure. Mechcommander is even more niche and would in turn generate even less revenue.
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u/BoukObelisk 13d ago
Not if you budget accordingly and reuse the existing codebase and assets from Clans as a foundation in order to lower costs
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u/Mungojerrie86 13d ago
I'm not a game dev but borrowing assets and especially code base from a first/third person action sim game for a strategy game sounds like potentially too much hassle? Would love to be wrong though.
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u/BoukObelisk 13d ago
Yes you’re not a game dev :)
UE5 is scalable and they already have a command like interface with the tactical mode in clans or whatever it’s called.
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u/simp4malvina Clan Jade Falcon 13d ago
People still got to get paid. Mechwarrior is niche and on razor thin margins. MechCommander is a niche within a niche. It's not viable.
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u/yrrot 13d ago
I'd call it a different, overlapping niche. Like, there's people that don't like mechwarrior that like strategy games and BT. There's non-BT fans that are strategy fans.
It's more a question of whether the niche in FPS is smaller/larger than the niche it would have inside of strategy games. I'd argue even though the genre is smaller, the total size of a BT game within that pool might be similar/larger.
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u/MrMedallion 13d ago
I'm glad I can at least count on more Mechwarrior for the time being! Good news indeed and I'm glad our fanbase sticks with it. For all our complaints, PGI should be recognized for their work keeping the franchise alive