Editing BattleTech (section)

== Spin-offs ==
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The ''BattleTech'' franchise first extended beyond the tabletop wargame format with the release of ''[[MechWarrior (RPG)|MechWarrior]]'', a [[role-playing game]] in which players portray BattleMech pilots or other characters in the 31st century.  The RPG system has been republished in several editions and expanded by various sourcebooks and supplements.  In 1996, FASA also introduced the ''[[BattleTech Collectible Card Game]]'', a CCG developed by [[Wizards of the Coast]], creators of the popular ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''.

[[WizKids]], owners of the ''BattleTech'' franchise after 2001,<ref>[http://www.wizkidsgames.com/wk_article.asp?cid=4501&frame=company WizKids Games] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110102921/http://www.wizkidsgames.com/wk_article.asp?cid=4501&frame=company |date=November 10, 2006 }}</ref> introduced a collectable miniatures-based variant of the classic tabletop game called ''[[MechWarrior: Dark Age]]'' in 2002 (later renamed ''[[MechWarrior: Age of Destruction]]'').<ref>[http://www.wizkidsgames.com/wk_article.asp?cid=36939&frame=company WizKids Games] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314083359/http://www.wizkidsgames.com/wk_article.asp?cid=36939&frame=company |date=March 14, 2007 }}</ref> The game incorporates WizKids' "[[Clix System]]", a means of tracking the combat statistics and abilities of each figure by turning a dial in its base.

BattleMechs, the hulking flagship units of the franchise, made a natural subject for computer emulation, and so in 1988 [[Infocom]] released a PC/Commodore 64/Amiga based RPG called ''[[BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception]]''.  It was later followed up with a sequel, ''[[BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Revenge]]'' in 1990.  Both games were reasonably well received, although aside from storyline continuity the second game held few similarities to its predecessor.  The first pure simulation of BattleMech combat, however, was released for computers in 1989. Titled ''[[MechWarrior (1989 video game)|MechWarrior]]'' and published by [[Activision]], the single-player game gave users the opportunity to pilot a range of Mechs and engage in combat against computer-controlled opponents.  Sequels ''[[MechWarrior 2]]'' (1995), ''[[MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries]]'' (1996), ''[[MechWarrior 3]]'' (1999) and ''[[MechWarrior 4]]'' (2000), and ''[[MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries]]'' (2002) created simulations of progressively higher technical sophistication. "Mekpaks" for ''MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries'' made by Mektek were released, adding new weapons, Mechs and graphics.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} A group also modded ''[[Crysis]]'' for the release of a ''BattleTech'' game known as ''[[MechWarrior: Living Legends]]'' and the first public beta was released on December 26, 2009.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} A possible ''MechWarrior 5'' was being produced, though it lingered in development for about a year and was eventually canceled.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} Originally, [[Smith & Tinker]] owned the ''BattleTech'' electronic rights, but, after failing to find funding for a new ''MechWarrior'' game, the rights to the series were bought by [[Piranha Games]] in 2011, who had originally been working with Smith & Tinker to create MechWarrior 5.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bullock|first=Russ|title=President|url=https://twitter.com/russ_bullock/status/438080991635062784|work=Piranha Games|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> On July 9, 2009, it was confirmed that the franchise would be rebooted.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5310586/new-mechwarrior-game-confirmed-will-reboot-series |title=New Mechwarrior Game Confirmed, Will Reboot Series |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[Gizmodo Media Group]] |date=July 9, 2009 |access-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> Further trailers were released and it was confirmed that the timeline would be set around 3015.  Though it seemed that the legal troubles which originally plagued FASA due to the similarities between ''BattleTech'' mechs and those in Robotech/Macross had returned to cause some troubles for Piranha Games,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/03/mechwarrior-5-trouble-brewing|title=MechWarrior 5 Trouble Brewing?|first=Erik|last=Brudvig|date=September 3, 2009}}</ref> the company later released a statement noting that their primary troubles had been with finding a publisher, which eventually led to the announcement of a [[free-to-play]] reboot called ''[[Mechwarrior Online]]'', set around the start of the clan invasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mwomercs.com/news/2011/10/2-dev-blog-0|title=MWO: News|website=mwomercs.com}}</ref>  The game was published in 2013 by Infinite Games Publishing,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/objects/018/018954.html|title=IGN|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108010513/http://pc.ign.com/objects/018/018954.html|archive-date=November 8, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> the same company which later published ''[[MechWarrior Tactics]]''.  IGP filed for bankruptcy and sold off the rights in December 2014. Piranha Games continued work on ''[[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]]'', was released as an Epic Games exclusive in December 2019. Piranha Games will be releasing a stand-alone sequel to ''[[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]]'' called ''[[MechWarrior 5: Clans]]'' on October 3, 2024. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://mw5clans.com/|title=MechWarrior 5: Clans|website=mw5clans.com}}</ref>

The franchise saw its first online-dedicated game with ''[[Multiplayer BattleTech: EGA]]'' in 1992, which was followed by ''[[Multiplayer Battletech: Solaris]]'' in 1996. 1994 saw the series' first console original title, the simply titled ''[[MechWarrior 3050|BattleTech]]'' for the [[Sega Genesis]].  Other notable titles include the ''MechCommander'' series for the PC (''[[MechCommander]]'' in 1998 and ''[[MechCommander 2]]'' in 2001), the ''MechAssault'' series (''[[MechAssault]]'' and ''[[MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf]]'' in 2002 and 2004, respectively, for the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], and ''[[MechAssault: Phantom War]]'' in 2006 for the [[Nintendo DS]]).  A new [[turn-based strategy game]], simply titled ''[[BattleTech (video game)|BattleTech]]'', was released in April 2018.  The game was developed by [[Harebrained Schemes]], and led by [[Jordan Weisman]], the creator of the series.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/28/harebrained-schemes-returns-to-kickstarter-as-jordan-weisman-reinvents-battletech-31-years-later.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930221652/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/09/28/harebrained-schemes-returns-to-kickstarter-as-jordan-weisman-reinvents-battletech-31-years-later.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=September 30, 2015|title=Returning To Battletech 31 Years Later|first=Mike|last=Futter|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=September 28, 2015|access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-14-battletech-reboot-delayed-until-2018|title=BattleTech reboot delayed until 2018|first=Jeffery|last=Matulef|work=[[Eurogamer]]|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2018}}</ref>