| Mail |

You might also like: WoW Insider, Massively, and more

More Sites You Might Like

Mechwarrior 4 free release cleared by Microsoft

by Richard Mitchell on Apr 22nd 2010 4:00PM

After it was first announced in July of 2009, the free release of MechWarrior 4 has finally been cleared by Microsoft. The announcement comes weeks after MekTek, the studio behind the free release, revealed that the project was being held up by Microsoft's legal department. The delay resulted in financial trouble for the studio, which was actually paying out-of-pocket to maintain its servers.

MekTek believes that the revelation of the legal hold up -- and the subsequent news coverage and forum traffic -- played a role in expediting the release. The company has also thanked its partners Smith & Tinker, Virtual World Entertainment and Catalyst Game Labs for "pressing Microsoft to allow for the release."

MekTek advises fans to "stay tuned" for the impending free launch of MechWarrior 4.

Source

Tags: catalyst-game-labs, MechWarrior, mechwarrior-4, mektek, mektek-studios, smith-and-tinker, virtual-world-entertainment

Reader Comments (22)

cool move.

PEW PEW PEW!

I guess MS realized they really couldn't make any money off of it.

I think the "evil" Microsoft of the old days is for the most part gone and... been replaced by Apple.

Nope, evil Microsoft is still here and charging for everything else as usual. I bet there's something behind this, like Gold subscription is required to have this game for free.

The Windows and Office side of the house is not evil, but the gaming and entertainment side sure is...

Apple isn't evil, there's a sucker born every minute.

It's 100% free. You don't need a Live Gold account, you don't need to already own MW4 Mercs or Halo Reach Legendary Edition or whatever you can think of.

We at Mektek would appreciate your donations, though. ;)

Wow. So running a business for profit is evil? If so, then yes MS was trying to be evil.

I will forever be saddened by the Mechassault series being seemingly dead.

I loved the first game, and really hoped they would make a third one after that mediocre second.

Mechassault was terrible. A Battletech abomination.

Free = Win

Does anyone remember Gnome?

I do not, but hate you for getting to go to Coachella.

Ok, I don't hate you. Just jealous :)

Dood you missed it.

I GOT MY FACE BLOWN OFF,

TRIPPED ON SOME CRAZY SUBSTANCES,

HAD BEER/WINE/VODKA/BROWNIES FOR BREAKFAST,

SAW CRAZY WEIRD THINGS,

AND GOT MY FACE BLOWN OFF.

It was the greatest weekend ever.

DUDE, THAT WAS YOU??!?

Heck yes I sunk so many hours into this game when it first came out.

So you all are aware, a few bugs are getting ironed out. Jehosephat2k, says that they're aiming for releasing it this weekend. You can go ahead and download MTX and the 1.7GB Mekpak 3.1, which is everything you'll need when the free release is finally dropped.

Also, if Mektek's site seems slow, it's because we are getting hammered with traffic. We'll be getting hammered with booze when Mercs is free for everyone.

I still remember the songs from that cd. The soundtrack added to the atmosphere so much.

is this a good game? i've wanted to try it, but just haven't gotten around to it

This was the best MW since ME:2 mercenaries. Didn't quite capture the same mech feeling, but it was good nonetheless.

Lets not get started on mechassault. If anyone making the new mechwarrior reads this, please make it the exact same as MW 2 Mercenaries and not that P.O.S mech assault. PLEASE even a damn remake would be amazing.

yes! I was keeping tabs on when the game would come out. I've only played mw3 (I can't anymore..the disc has too many scratches Y.Y ) so I'm looking forward to getting some mw action!

I remember when you'd start up a mech, the last thing the computer would say is "...all systems nominal."

...I can't wait!

I actually cannot wait since now the original Xbox Live! is down and can no longer play the original Mech Assault or Mech Assault 2: Lone Wolf games!

Breaking News

Mechwarrior 4 free release cleared by Microsoft

Reader Comments (22)

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:07PM BrianH said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:08PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:10PM Dr Blight said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:38PM ployer said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:43PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:45PM Dr Blight said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:57PM Shagittarius said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 5:03PM Zertoss said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 7:30PM MrKlorox said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:19PM Nytemare said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 6:31PM AOClaus said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:22PM Marco le Polo said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:35PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:57PM Marco le Polo said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 9:27PM XLM said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:32PM toastix said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:32PM Zertoss said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 4:42PM Haon said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 5:01PM dnelson1025 said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 5:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 22nd 2010 10:44PM bunnyraven said

Posted: Apr 23rd 2010 1:43AM WickedCobra03 said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW