Mecha Break dev admits it's been "too cautious, too rigid," and now it wants your help to turn things around

As Mecha Break Season 2 looms, the game's executive producer Kris Kwok has shared a heartfelt letter with players considering its future direction. Reaching a peak player count of over 132,000 at its launch in July, the free Steam game now typically hovers around the 3,000 to 5,000 mark, and Kwok admits that it "hasn't lived up to everyone's expectations for a mecha title yet." He says that Mecha Break "now stands at a crossroads," and wants your help to define how the multiplayer game will evolve moving forward.

Despite the cautionary tone, there are certainly lots of positives in the message. Kwok says that "Since its first reveal, Mecha Break has received far more attention than we ever expected." Developer Amazing Seasun Games was highly encouraged by early player feedback, with players reporting, "The concept is great, the combat is outstanding, and it's the kind of mecha game rarely done well in the market." Combining the spectacular scale of Armored Core 6 with the team tactics of Counter-Strike 2 makes for a rewarding experience, but Kwok explains that Amazing Seasun has struggled to find the perfect balancing act.

"We wanted the game to be more open and strategic," he remarks, but adds, "On the other hand, we worried that adding complexity might dilute the pure adrenaline of mecha combat. Ultimately, we kept pulling back and forth between these trade-offs." While there were many updates made between the launch version and Season 1, Pulse of the Indigo Stone, Kwok says that "improving the experience alone isn't enough."

The team has been speaking with its community, and Kwok says Amazing Seasun is reflecting "on whether Mecha Break truly fulfills players' mecha game dreams." He continues, "These discussions have shown us there's still plenty to do to reach that goal, but no matter how long the road is, we're committed to finding what truly makes a mecha game satisfying for more players.

"Is it piloting unstoppable warframes to defend global cities against enemy swarms? Is it teaming up with other players to dive into dangerous missions and take on various challenges? Is it piloting a fully customized Striker to face the unknown? Or… is it forging connections with other legendary pilots and writing a dramatic, space-opera romance?" That last one has certainly been working for Warframe, and Kwok says "These are just some of the ideas we've discussed internally."

This is where you come in. Amazing Seasun has launched a questionnaire titled 'The Mecha Game of our Dreams,' and it wants as many players as possible to send in their answers. "It's a bit long," Kwok concedes, " but every response will shape how we plan future versions of the game." He calls the survey "a pivotal moment in Mecha Break's development," adding, "We won't just 'listen' passively, our team will take a more open approach, inviting everyone to help break the limits and shape the game together."

Don't worry about this affecting the next update; Kwok says that Mecha Break Season 2 has already been finalized. You can expect new Strikers, custom Strikers, and seasonal weapons. There will be "regular updates" for 6v6 games and battle royale mode Mashmak, and a "key focus" on online events such as holiday festivals. Internal tests are underway on a multiplayer battlefield format, but this currently "needs further polishing and optimization" before it's ready for public testing.

Mecha Break Season 2 'Echoes of the void' will begin Friday November 21. You can play the game for free on Steam. "In the past, we've been too cautious, too rigid, and our words lacked warmth," Kwok concludes. "Starting with this letter, we hope to change that and invite all mecha fans to break the limits together."