MechWarrior 5: Clans Takes Full Advantage of Unreal Engine 5, Finally Ships with Great Controller Support

During GDC 2024, Piranha Games, a Canadian developer, revealed fresh details and footage of their latest game, MechWarrior 5: Clans. This standalone installment is a significant departure from previous games in the franchise, as it prioritizes storytelling. As indicated by the title, the game will feature a Clan Invasion plotline, marking the first time since 1995’s MechWarrior 2 that the franchise has explored this period which had a profound impact on the politics of the Inner Sphere. The developers have stated that this game will be an excellent starting point for those new to the series.

The story centers on a talented young pilot who has just completed rigorous training on Huntress, the ancestral planet of the Smoke Jaguar clan. The protagonist joins a Star, a team of five fellow pilots from the same clan, as they prepare to aid their kin in a massive invasion of the Inner Sphere, a crucial event in the BattleTech universe.

As the campaign progresses, Piranha Games has promised a wide range of planets with intricately designed biomes, carefully crafted maps and missions, and a departure from the procedural features of their previous sandbox-style game, Mercenaries. Similar to its predecessor, MechWarrior 5: Clans will continue to offer intense combat that requires strategic thinking and adaptability. The bond between pilots is expected to strengthen in this chaotic and complex environment.

The upcoming game will introduce a variety of new elements, including an enhanced Mech lab, Hardpoint, and Omnipod system. Additionally, players will have access to tools for coordinating with their allies, such as a Battlegrid with a bird’s eye view and a convenient radial menu for giving quick commands. After a presentation, we had the opportunity to interview Russ Bullock, CEO of Piranha Games. The full transcript of the interview is available below.

MechWarrior 5: Clans is set to launch this year on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X, featuring cross-play functionality.

What differentiates this game from being considered MechWarrior 6 at this stage?

It is possible that in another universe, this game could have been named MechWarrior 6. However, I believe there is some significance in continuing the tradition. The series began with MechWarrior 2 and its expansion MechWarrior 2 Mercenaries, followed by MechWarrior 4 and its expansion MechWarrior 4 Mercenaries. Now, we have followed a similar pattern in reverse.

We have two versions of our game: MechWarrior 5 Mercenaries and Clans, which is our story-based adaptation. Despite maintaining the MW5 naming nomenclature, it is a completely new standalone game. We have upgraded from UE4 to UE5 and have added different types of missions. This game offers a narrative experience with a significant amount of motion capture cinematics, a first for our franchise, providing players with a deeper understanding of their character and other in-game characters. However, once players enter the cockpit, they can still expect plenty of thrilling mech action with numerous improvements.

For even those who have been longtime fans of MechWarrior, there will be some new features, such as the Battlegrid system. This system provides a top-down view and allows players to command their teammates in a similar manner to an RTS game, directing them to specific locations or to attack specific enemies. Additionally, the radio menu has been completely revamped for MechWarrior, giving players the ability to control all of their teammates and queue up attacks. This game will be the first to have equally efficient controls on both console and PC platforms.

Will players who are accustomed to the Lone Wolf approach have the option to automate certain squad commands?

Generally speaking, in the majority of missions and battles, it is not necessary to command the soldiers. They possess their own intelligence through AI and will select and engage in combat with their own chosen targets.

Is it possible to switch between the kit you are currently using?

It is worth mentioning that in this five player co-op game, you have the option to invite your friends to play alongside you. Additionally, all the other Mechs that you are not controlling can still be utilized by AI. Moreover, cross-play between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC is also available.

Additionally, do you offer cross-save or cross-progression?

This is a peer-to-peer cooperative experience, meaning that when I invite you to join my campaign, it is to assist me in my own progression. You will not be able to bring any progress from my campaign back to yours. Instead, you will return to your own campaign at the point where you left off.

Is there no centralized server that allows players to upload their campaign data from PS5 and resume it on PC?

Negative.

In what ways is your team utilizing Unreal Engine 5 for MechWarrior 5: Clans?

We made use of every available resource. Fortunately, we fully utilized all the new features available. This included a fully customizable MetaHuman base, advanced motion capture for cinematics, and the detailed world itself.

We have fully utilized Nanite and Lumen, with all destructibles utilizing Chaos and World Partition. Utilizing all of these new features has greatly improved the overall appearance of the game. As we continue to bring more of these elements online, we are constantly impressed by the visual enhancements. We are extremely pleased with our decision to upgrade from UE4 to UE5.

Do you have plans to release this game on both PC and console platforms simultaneously?

Yes, it is a simultaneous release on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

Does this cover both Xbox One and PlayStation 4, or only the current generation?

This time around, we have chosen to only use PS5 and Xbox Series X for our project, unlike mercenaries who typically handle both. However, we must also take into consideration supporting the series S, a peculiar outlier.

Fortunately, developing a Nintendo Switch version, for instance, is much more intricate.

I’m not sure if Switch will be a possibility. The main obstacle would be the amount of RAM, even with the older consoles. We’ll have to wait and see if they reveal the RAM for a potential Switch 2, but I’m not very optimistic that they will have enough available.

It has been about five years since those systems were released. The delay was due to issues with the supply chain and storage. The previous generation seemed to stay relevant for longer than expected, but now we’re starting to see an increase in sales numbers.

Will gamepad support be available on PC?

Of course, you have a variety of options for controllers including PS5, Xbox, keyboard, and mouse. Additionally, there is a simplified control system for regular controllers that uses animation blending for torso twist and other movements. This makes the game feel similar to other third-person shooters, even for those who are new to the MechWarrior franchise.

Are you open to the idea of incorporating gyroscopic aiming into the DualSense controller for PlayStation 5?

I’m not sure. Attempting to do that would likely hinder your gameplay significantly. To make it feasible, we would need to create an alternate mode where you control an airstrike, for example. That could be a potential idea.

Do you have a specific date and price set for the release of MechWarrior 5: Clans?

As of now, our announcement is that the game will be released in 2024. More specific information on the exact release date will be available around June.

How much customization is there this time, in terms of both constructing your Mech from scratch and adding personal touches such as color schemes, decals, or emblems?

The depths of this place are quite impressive, much like the Mercenaries. A complete Mechlab awaits you, allowing for customization of your Mech’s weapons and the ability to swap them out. You can even equip heatsinks and other equipment. With the Clan Mech, being an OmniMech, you have the option to switch out the OmniPod set. For instance, a stock Timber Wolf may come with powerful missile racks, but by switching to a different OmniPod set, those may be replaced with energy or ballistics weapons.

There is also a complete science upgrade available. It could potentially increase the heat dissipation on your Mech chassis by one. Additionally, there are various pilot skills that can be utilized, allowing you to assign different abilities to your five pilots.

There is a significant amount of strategic thinking involved in front-end development as well.

Will players need to be concerned about preserving ammo in future missions?

During this final stretch, as we work to balance the game, the decision regarding this matter will likely be made. In my experience with MechWarrior games, this aspect is not typically a significant consideration.

In both the Mercenaries campaign and this game, it is common to encounter late stage missions that require prolonged battles. This is due to the nature of MechWarrior as a game focused on attrition, where players must carefully manage resources. To aid in these final missions, field repair bases will be available to replenish ammunition and armor, allowing for extended missions lasting up to 20 or 25 minutes.

In order to successfully complete a challenging and intricate mission, we must ensure that the player has sufficient assistance to reach their destination and can replenish their supply of ammo. If the player is running low on ammo and is only equipped with Gauss rifles, it might be necessary to also carry PPCs or energy weapons as backup, as they have an unlimited supply of ammunition.

I greatly appreciate the time you have taken for me.