MechWarrior 2 is on Xbox Game Pass, but it’s definitely one of the worst versions of the game

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Yesterday, Microsoft revealed their Retro Classics collection for Game Pass, which offers more than 50 Activision games from the ’80s and ’90s. Among these titles are classics like Kaboom!, Pitfall!, Grand Prix, and MechWarrior 2: 31 Century Combat. However, if you’re eager for MechWarrior 2, be aware that it’s not the edition you might have anticipated.

The reason we’re not getting a MechWarrior 2 re-release

As a devoted fan, I must clarify that what’s being offered isn’t the genuine article – it’s merely the PlayStation 1 version of MechWarrior 2, running on an emulator in the Retro Classics collection. This means we’re dealing with scaled-down graphics, sluggish performance, and potential additional hiccups.

Unfortunately, this could also mean a letdown for those who purchased it through GOG and Steam. It seems unlikely that a true PC version will be made available there as well. The reason? The usual suspects: legal complexities and financial considerations. Was there ever any doubt?

For quite some time now, the video game MechWarrior 2 has been entangled in legal complications. The main hurdle preventing its re-release stems from intricate licensing matters. Although Activision was responsible for creating and publishing the game, Microsoft currently holds the rights to the MechWarrior franchise. Previously, re-releasing the game would have required a negotiation between Activision and Microsoft, which would have incurred additional licensing costs. Trevor Longino, who once led PR and marketing at GOG, described these legal issues as “impassable,” stating that the potential profits from a re-release wouldn’t justify the trouble and expense of resolving everything.

Apart from that, it’s worth noting that numerous editions of MechWarrior 2 have been released, such as the Titanium Edition, Pentium Edition, and Arcade Combat Edition. Each edition comes with distinct hardware and system requirements, and some were even optimized for specific graphics cards like the 3Dfx Voodoo. This means that running these versions on contemporary PCs can be quite challenging. Even using emulators like DOSBox or MechVM, players often encounter issues related to compatibility and stability.

In 2022, when it was announced that Microsoft intended to purchase Activision Blizzard, many hoped the move might resolve any legal issues since both companies would now be under one ownership. However, despite the deal being finalized, there’s still no news about the re-release of the classic game, MechWarrior 2. It seems that Microsoft does not find enough demand in the market for reviving such an older title.

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2025-05-22 15:32