MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries

Not to be confused with sequel of MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries.
Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries
Developer(s)Cyberlore FASA Studio
Studio MekTek
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Studio MekTek
Producer(s)Jon Clark
Designer(s)David Fifield
Programmer(s)Chris Tohline
Artist(s)Seth Spaulding
Heinz Schuller
SeriesMechWarrior
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)Vehicle simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries is a vehicle simulation video game for Microsoft Windows, released in 2002. It is a standalone expansion of MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, based on the BattleTech/MechWarrior game universe.[3][4][5] The game was developed by Cyberlore[6] in tandem with FASA Studio. This studio would also be responsible for MechWarrior 4's previous expansion, Black Knight[7] - as well as both the InnerSphere and Clan Mech Packs.

Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries and Clan and Inner Sphere expansions were re-released for free. By April 22, 2010 Microsoft had cleared its free release[8] and on April 30, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries was released to the general public by MekTek as a free download.[9] However, due to the massive influx of 100,000 downloads and web site accesses, MekTek.net and related services crashed.[10] MekTek recovered the MekMatch match making service on May 1 and the forum was restored the next day.[11]

In the following years, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries was no longer available free. MekTek expressed their intent to move away from the BattleTech franchise,[12] and a new group interested in maintaining free versions appeared but encountered difficulties securing permission to continue offering the game as a free download.[12]

  1. ^ "What's New?". Eurogamer.net. 2002-11-15. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  2. ^ "MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries Invades Stores". IGN. 2002-11-08. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  3. ^ "MechWarrior To Be Distributed Free On BattleTech.com". Battletech. July 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  4. ^ Jeff Haynes (July 9, 2009). "MechWarrior 4 To Be Re-Released". IGN. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  5. ^ "Free MW4 "Very Shortly"". Blue's News. September 4, 2009. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ "Mechwarrior 4: MERCENARIES". www.cyberlore.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  7. ^ "Mechwarrior 4 Expansion: Black Knight". www.cyberlore.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  8. ^ Richard Mitchell (April 22, 2010). "Mechwarrior 4 free release cleared by Microsoft". Engadget (Joystiq). Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  9. ^ Vince McMullin (April 30, 2010). "Mechwarrior4 Free, the long awaited moment". Studio MekTek. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "MechWarrior Is Back!". Battletech. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  11. ^ "Battletech Free Update". Battletech. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Before posting on MechWarrior4". Studio MekTek. January 22, 2013. Archived from the original on October 27, 2013.