Despite recent challenges, the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries saga continues to advance. New mechs, intense battles, and a brand-new campaign are on the horizon.

The MechWarrior franchise has seen its share of ups and downs since its inception in 1989, changing hands between various developers before landing with Piranha Games in 2011. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries launched a few months ago to less-than-stellar sales. Coupled with layoffs at a division of Piranha Games, the future of the series seemed uncertain.  However, despite these setbacks, the game continues to receive support – a new expansion has just been announced, indicating that MechWarrior isn't going down without a fight.

Ghost Bear: Flash Storm is the upcoming DLC, slated for an April 2025 release.  In this expansion, players will command the Silveroot Keshik, an elite force within Clan Ghost Bear, through a new 12-mission campaign. It also introduces Elementals, the Clans' power-armored infantry, previously only seen in cutscenes.

The expansion will introduce four new OmniMechs:

- Night Gyr

- Ebon Jaguar

- Fire Moth

- Huntsman

And four new BattleMechs:

- Kodiak

- Jenner II C

- Hunchback II C

- Rifleman II C

Players will also be able to command squads of Elementals in combat and take part in battles aboard the Clan Ghost Bear flagship, the Grizzly.

Ghost Bear: Flash Storm will launch on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series S|X, and PlayStation 5 with the same initial price point as the previous DLC, Legend of the Kestrel Lancers.  Legend of the Kestrel Lancers was later made free, with those who purchased it receiving refunds.

The move to make Legend of the Kestrel Lancers free came after community feedback regarding its perceived value. Its additions of a 5v5 PvP arena mode, a cooperative horde mode, and 12 new OmniMech variants left many fans wanting more. Ghost Bear: Flash Storm, with its full story campaign, aims to deliver a more substantial and appropriately priced experience.