The Retro Classics collection was recently announced by Microsoft, featuring over 50 Activision titles from the 1980s and 1990s, including Kaboom!, Pitfall!, Grand Prix, and MechWarrior 2: 31 Century Combat. However, fans of MechWarrior 2 may be disappointed to learn that the version included in the collection is not the classic PC release they might have anticipated.

Why MechWarrior 2 isn’t making a proper comeback

The MechWarrior 2 in the Retro Classics collection is simply the PS1 port running on an emulator. This means it will have lower-quality visuals, worse performance, and potential compatibility issues. Unfortunately, this also means a proper PC re-release on platforms like GOG or Steam is unlikely. The reason? A combination of legal complexities and financial considerations.

MechWarrior 2 has been stuck in legal limbo for years. Despite Activision developing and publishing the game, Microsoft currently owns the MechWarrior brand. Re-releasing the game would require a licensing deal between the two companies, which would come with significant costs. Previous attempts to resolve these issues have been deemed too costly, with the potential revenue from a re-release not justifying the effort required. Additionally, MechWarrior 2 has had multiple versions, including the Titanium Edition, Pentium Edition, and Arcade Combat Edition, each with unique hardware and system requirements. Some versions were optimized for specific graphics cards like the 3Dfx Voodoo, making them difficult to run on modern PCs, even with emulators like DOSBox or MechVM.

When Microsoft announced its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2022, there was hope that this might resolve the legal hurdles. However, even after the acquisition, there’s still no indication of a MechWarrior 2 re-release, suggesting Microsoft doesn’t see significant market demand for an updated version of this classic title.