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
Composer(s)Heinz Schuller
Mark Duncan
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.