With BattleTech's expansions complete, Harebrained Schemes is focusing on two brand new projects

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The mech pilots can enjoy some R&R.

The big, burly mechs of BattleTech are due a well-deserved rest. After a trio of expansions and two years of updates, developer Harebrained Schemes has the itch for something new. In a message to players, studio co-founder Mitch Gitelman thanked the community for its support, as well as teasing what's coming next. 

"Thanks again for your support over the last four years of development," said Gitelman. "Together HBS and our 55,000 backers delivered the first turn-based tactical MechWarrior experience in over 20 years. Our game has earned a lot of awards and accolades, and we are very proud of what we've been able to accomplish together. That success allowed us to continue supporting BattleTech with nine free updates and three big expansions."

BattleTech's not being abandoned, however. Another free update is coming this month, and while it will be the last, the studio will continue to maintain customer support. As for what's following it, more details will be coming later, but for now we know that Harebrained Schemes is working on two brand new, non-BattleTech projects. 

I'd love another Shadowrun game with a tactical layer that's as compelling as BattleTech's, but "brand new" makes that extremely unlikely. Whatever the new games are, however, I'd be extremely surprised if at least one of them isn't a turn-based tactical affair. 

So pour one out for the metal behemoths and their considerably more squishy pilots. They've had a very good run. BattleTech's one of the best strategy games on PC, and hopefully it won't be the last time we see them duking it out in turn-based brawls. 

Fraser Brown
Fraser Brown
Online Editor

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.