BattleTech, the tactical mech combat game played on hex maps where you manage heat, positioning, and weapon loadouts, is getting its biggest refresh in decades. A completely new starter box, core box, and core rulebook are all launching together in August 2026, the first time all three have been developed simultaneously in over thirty years. Catalyst Game Labs made the announcement at AdeptiCon 2026, calling it BattleTech: Refit & Redeployment.
This is not a reboot. The core game remains the same BattleTech that has been stomping around since 1985. But the new Core Rulebook, built on the success of the BattleMech Manual, brings what the studio calls "the most cohesive, approachable, and dynamic set of rules for BattleTech ever." A comprehensive Missions section lets players set up anything from quick skirmishes to full campaigns, and six months of public playtesting (the largest in BattleTech's 40-year history) shaped the final product.
The new Starter Box features two ilClan-era BattleMechs (Hammerhead and Kontio) as a streamlined entry point for new players. The Core Box goes bigger with eight new plastic miniatures, including the Mad Cat Mk II and Vulture Mk IV, plus the Sagas lore booklet to help players pick a faction and get straight into a campaign. All existing mapsheets, Technical Readouts, and models remain fully compatible.
If you have seen giant robot minis at your local game store and wondered what they are about, this is the designed-from-scratch entry point. Catalyst has sold over 10 million plastic BattleTech miniatures in the past eight years, and all three products debut at Gen Con 2026 (July 30 to August 2) before wider release.
Sources: Catalyst Game Labs | ICv2 | Goonhammer
