A Storm Breaks: New DLC for MechWarrior 5

Suit up mecha fans, MechWarrior 5: Clans has unlocked DLC Ghost Bear: Flash Storm, and Matt Newman, product marketing manager at Piranha Games, dropped by Intel Gaming Access to share the news, as well as a lasting connection that will resonate with many gamers who dream of turning pro. “[MechWarrior] is a franchise with deep roots, and MechWarrior 2 was actually the first game I ever played on my first gaming PC,” Newman shares. “That experience made me realize I had to work in games, so in a way, my origin story is tied to both Intel and MechWarrior. This project really feels like a full-circle moment for me.” Seems like this is the perfect place, then, to share what’s happening in the MechWarrior universe.

“Piranha Games has been developing MechWarrior titles for over 15 years,” Newman says. “With MechWarrior 5: Clans, we set out to create a more cinematic, story-driven experience—and that’s exactly what we delivered. It features around 90 minutes of cinematics, a handcrafted campaign with dozens of missions, and up to 100 hours of gameplay.”

“Cinematic” is a word that pops up frequently when describing the game, and with good reason. “We wanted to go big,” Newman recalls. “Full mocap, facial performance capture, and a real narrative arc supported by top-tier visuals. That meant hiring new talent, purchasing and learning how to use motion capture equipment, upgrading our engine and toolset, and pushing beyond what we initially thought we could do. What’s really cool is how quickly we exceeded our original expectations. Thanks to the team—and the power of Unreal Engine 5—we created over 90 minutes of cinematics and tons of in-game storytelling moments that fans have really connected with. It was definitely a challenge, but the results speak for themselves. You can see it in the reactions online—people are blown away by how cinematic and emotionally resonant Clans feels.”

MechWarrior 5: Clans centres on the Clan Invasion, where players step into the shoes (if we can call them that) of a Smoke Jaguar Warrior, and battle their way through the ranks. “It’s perfect for players who want intense mech action, deep mech customization, co-op gameplay, and a compelling sci-fi story,” Newman says. “With full cross-play co-op, it’s a great way to team up with friends and experience the universe together. And now with our first DLC, Ghost Bear: Flash Storm, we’re telling a brand-new story from the perspective of Clan Ghost Bear, adding a fresh view of the invasion and expanding the Clans universe.”

In the DLC, there’s not only new content, but a new approach. “First we have DLC sharing,” Newman tells us. “If one player owns the DLC, their friends can still join and play the content in co-op even if they don’t own it themselves. Second, we’re launching modding tools for Clans alongside the Ghost Bear: Flash Storm DLC. And finally, I think people underestimate just how awesome the destruction is. Walking through buildings, watching them crumble around you, seeing your lasers slice through enemy mechs—it’s a visceral, weighty experience that really sells the power fantasy of piloting a 100-ton war machine. There’s nothing else quite like it.”

When players are that deeply immersed, you don’t want anything performance-related to jolt them out of that state. “Performance really matters in Clans because there’s so much happening in the heat of combat—18+ mechs on the field, dropships, tanks, tons of weapons fire,” Newman confirms. “You need smooth, stable fps to clearly assess threats and make strategic decisions in real time.” Newman’s personal connection to Intel may have begun with that first PC game, but this was the first time for Piranha Games working with Intel to integrate Intel® Xe Super Sampling 2 (XeSS 2). “We had hoped to include it at launch with Clans,” Newman recalls, “but timing didn’t allow it. However, we made sure to support it in the Ghost Bear’s Flash Storm DLC. According to our engineer Brian, the integration was straightforward and quick to get up and running, which gave us time to polish and fine-tune it. The tools Intel provided—especially the Unreal Engine plugin—made implementing and testing XeSS and frame generation simple. It’s been the start of a great collaboration, and we’re excited to continue supporting Intel GPUs and their feature sets in the future.”

And are we able to get a sneak preview of that future, in terms of content? “Right now, it’s all about Ghost Bear: Flash Storm,” Newman reveals. “Beyond that, we’ll continue to support all our MechWarrior titles throughout the year, and look forward to sharing what’s next soon.” We look forward to it too.

Purchase MechWarrior 5 Clans Ghost Bear : Flash Storm on Steam