Catalyst Game Labs is overhauling BattleTech in August 2026, calling it the biggest refresh of the 40-year-old mech wargame in three decades. A new Starter Box, Core Box and Core Rulebook will all drop simultaneously, the first time that's happened in BattleTech's history.
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Find events near youThe headline is the new Core Box, packing eight ready-to-play plastic 'Mechs spanning Inner Sphere and Clan eras, with the Mad Cat Mk II among the recognisable returns. It also includes a new lore booklet called Sagas that walks new commanders through picking a faction and a play style, a known on-ramp problem for decades. The Starter Box keeps things simpler with two ilClan-era 'Mechs (the Hammerhead and Kontio) and stripped-back record sheets for first-game play.
Crucially, this isn't a new edition. Catalyst ran what they're calling the largest public playtest in BattleTech's history (six months, five playtest packets) and reckons less than 0.05% of existing record sheets need adjusting. Your shelf full of Technical Readouts and old miniatures still works. The new Core Rulebook reorganises the rules and adds a Missions section with flexible scenario frameworks for varied play.
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See how it worksFor UK BattleTech players, this is the moment to pick the game back up or finally try it. The Core Box debuts at Gen Con before hitting retail in August (UK pricing TBC, but expect to see it through Wayland Games and Element Games). If you've been put off by the rulebook intimidation factor, the Sagas booklet is being sold as the friendliest entry point the game has ever had. Worth a look if you've got mates who keep saying "I'd play BattleTech if it weren't so dense."
Sources: Catalyst Game Labs | Bell of Lost Souls
