BattleTech

BattleTech

Developers
	Harebrained Schemes
Publishers
	Paradox Interactive
Engines
Former	Unity 5
	Unity 2018
Release dates
Windows	April 24, 2018
macOS (OS X)	April 24, 2018
Linux	November 27, 2018
Reception
Metacritic	78
OpenCritic	80
IGDB	82
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase, Expansion pack, DLC, Subscription gaming service
Microtransactions	None
Pacing	Turn-based
Perspectives	Bird's-eye view
Controls	Multiple select, Point and select
Genres	Strategy, Vehicle combat
Vehicles	Robot
Themes	Sci-fi
Series	BattleTech

BattleTech
BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception	1988
MechWarrior (series)
BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks' Revenge	1990
MechCommander (series)
BattleTech	2018

BattleTech is a bird's-eye view strategy and vehicle combat game in the BattleTech series.

General information

Official forum

GOG.com Community Discussions

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Publisher website		Digital Deluxe and Mercenary Collection editions also available.
GOG.com		Digital Deluxe and Mercenary Collection editions also availalble.
Green Man Gaming
Humble Store
Microsoft Store		Included with Xbox Game Pass for PC. Digital Deluxe and Mercenary Collection editions also available.
Steam		Digital Deluxe and Mercenary Collection editions also available.

All versions require a Paradox Account for multiplayer.

Version differences

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, the digital artbook, digital soundtrack, 4K wallapapers, deluxe avatar and icon for the Paradox forums.

The Mercenary Collection includes the base game, Digital Deluxe Edition content, and the Season Pass.

Monetization

Type	Notes
DLC	The DLC includes a new 'Mech skin.
Expansion pack	The expansion packs include new campaigns, 'Mechs, weapons and mechanics.
One-time game purchase	The game requires an upfront purchase to access.
Subscription gaming service	Available via Xbox Game Pass for PC.

DLC and expansion packs

Name	Notes
Season Pass	Includes the expansions
Flashpoint	Expansion #1
Urban Warfare	Expansion #2
Heavy Metal	Expansion #3.
Shadow Hawk Pack	Alternate skin for the Shadow Hawk 'Mech. Not included in the Season Pass nor the Mercenary Collection.

Essential improvements

Skip Intro and Splash screens
Navigate to <path-to-game>\BattleTech_Data\StreamingAssets\data\debug Open Settings.json Edit line "disableSplashScreens": false, & line "disableIntroMovie": false, so that the value is true. Be careful when editing json lines to preserve the existing formatting.

Unity: Multi threading
Navigate to <path-to-game>\BattleTech_Data Open boot.config Edit/add line gfx-enable-gfx-jobs= & gfx-enable-native-gfx-jobs= so that the value is 1.

BattletechPerformanceFix

CrystalClear: Provides user control over various post processing effects.

cFixes: Community fixes.

ModTek: Required for many mods to function.

Game data

Gameplay settings

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH
Microsoft Store
macOS (OS X)
Linux	$HOME/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH

It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech\C#\SGS#
GOG.com	%LOCALAPPDATA%\GOG.com\Galaxy\Applications\50593543263669699\Storage\Shared\Files\C#\SGS#
Microsoft Store	%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\ParadoxInteractive.Battletech-MainGame_zfnrdv2de78ny\SystemAppData\wgs
macOS (OS X)	$HOME/Library\Application Support\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech\C#\SGS#
Linux	$HOME/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/C#/SGS#
Steam	<Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\637090\remote\C#\SGS#

Moving save files from Microsoft Store versions to Steam versions is possible (DLC depending). Take backups before you try this. Disable Steam cloud saves first. Start a new campaign on the Steam version of the game and save the game manually, it will have a filename with .sav and be lowercase characters with dashes. Locate your most recent save from your Microsoft store copy (it will be all uppercase random characters with no filetype) and re-name it to the same name (exactly) as your Steam copies name, including the .sav. Finally, copy (and replace) your re-named Microsoft Store save file over the top of your Steam store save file. Load up the game in Steam to confirm it has worked and if so, re-enable Steam Cloud saves. It is reported it does work in reverse, but only if you do not have the DLC.

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud
Xbox Cloud

Video

Basic video settings

Advanced video settings

Graphics feature	State	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor			At least one specific display screen can be specified.
Ultra-widescreen			Support was added in patch 1.1.
4K Ultra HD			Resolutions beyond 4K may be enabled using "Enable Unsupported Resolutions" Video setting.
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed		Default behavior when Windowed Mode is disabled. See Exclusive Fullscreen on how to enable exclusive fullscreen mode.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS
120+ FPS		Although no FPS locks exist, FPS is constrained by Unity engine. 120 FPS cannot be achieved consistently in normal gameplay using an RTX 3080 at 1080p on low settings.
High dynamic range display (HDR)		See the glossary page for potential alternatives.
Color blind mode		Gameplay settings has alternate indirect fire color and line of sight colors, but no overall color blind settings.

The game engine may allow for manual configuration of the game via its variables. See the Unity page for more details.

• 

  Video settings in the external launcher

Exclusive Fullscreen

By default the fullscreen mode of the game runs in a borderless fullscreen window mode. This can be changed to use an exclusive fullscreen mode using the external launcher.

Enable exclusive fullscreen mode using the external launcher
Navigate to <path-to-game>. Launch BattleTechLauncher.exe. Click on the Display tab and enable Exclusive Fullscreen (when in Fullscreen Mode). Click Save. Play the game.

Input

Mouse options

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration		Follows the system-wide setting.
Mouse sensitivity		Follows the system-wide setting.
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support

• 

  Keybindings

Audio

Audio settings

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls		Master, Sound Effects, Music, Ambient, Voices, Cinematics
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost		Can be adjusted through the Play audio when Alt-Tabbed setting.
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
French
German
Russian

Network

Multiplayer is compatible between Windows, Mac and Linux versions.

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play
Online play		2	Versus Requires a Paradox Account.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	11

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	Wwise	Reference: SteamDB
Cutscenes	Bink Video

Mods

Notable community overhauls:

• Rogue Tech
• BattleTech Extended 3025-3061
• Battletech Advanced 3062

System requirements

Windows

macOS (OS X)

Linux

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	7
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core i3-2105 AMD Phenom II X3 720	Intel Core i5-4460 AMD FX-4300
System memory (RAM)	8 GB	16 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	35 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti ATI Radeon HD 5870 1 GB of VRAM DirectX 11 compatible	Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 AMD Radeon R9 285 2 GB of VRAM
Sound (audio device)	DirectX 9 compatible
Other	Broadband Internet connection for multiplayer

A 64-bit operating system is required.

macOS (OS X)
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	10.13.3
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core i5-4670	Intel Core i7-7700K
System memory (RAM)	8 GB	16 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	35 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GTX 775M 2 GB of VRAM	AMD Radeon Pro 580 8 GB of VRAM
Other	Broadband Internet connection for multiplayer

A 64-bit operating system is required.

Linux
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	SteamOS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core i3-3240	Intel Core i5-4460 AMD FX-4300
System memory (RAM)	8 GB	16 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	35 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GTX 560	Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 AMD Radeon R9 285 2 GB of VRAM
Other	Broadband Internet connection for multiplayer

A 64-bit operating system is required.