BattleTech is now officially one of the biggest names in tablet gaming

We don’t usually get solid sales numbers in the world of tablet games, but when we do, it’s because publishers have something to draw attention to. Catalyst Game Lab’ BattleTech the line had a 2022… and also a pretty good 2021 and 2019. Turns out 2018 wasn’t so bad either. In fact, at the current sales rate, by mid-summer 2023 the publisher should have sold some 9 million won small plastic mechanical model since the formation of a brand new sculptural product line in 2015. BattleTech is back in action and the next expansion will launch crowdfunding soon.

BattleTech starting in 1984 with Miniature War Game by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock, before turning into a tablet role-playing game, video game franchise and destination pre-VR arcade game experience. Catalyst took control of the tablet game a few years later and relaunched the series in 2015.

“That means all-new, ready-to-use, high-quality plastics — and completely redesigned core products to match that quality,” BattleTech the tablet blog group wrote wrote on Jan 2. “This has been a success since they became available in January 2018; Pre-order sales were so high that we started printing a second time before the first one hit the market. Seventh printing of Armored fighting game and the eighth printing of Box for beginners are being loaded by the end of 2022 and once they are sold, there will be 160,000 copies between these two boxes on the market in four years.”

Since then, the line has been expanded. The first is ForcePacks – separate boxed sets of four to six miniatures. Catalyst sold half a million of them, plus another 160,000 mercenary-themed packs that followed. Its BattleTech: Clan Invasion Kickstarter attracts attention $2.5 million in 2020rank it among the top 10 most sponsored board games on that foundation that year. Later Attack Alpha The boxed set landed at Gen Con 2022, with another 30,000 copies sold in the first few runs. In total, the company expects to sell around 9 million 28mm miniatures by mid-summer.

Why is Catalyst so successful? A healthy relationship with colleagues in the video game space helps a lot. The Harebrained Plan’ BattleTech turn-based strategy game remains a fixture in the top 10 lists in the video game industry, its lifespan far exceeds even the wishes of the developers themselves, thanks to many outstanding advantages fan modification. Meanwhile, Piranha Games’ MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries had one average debutbut found success with next expansion. Next item — Rise of Rasalhague – To be coming out later this month.

Most importantly, the three companies are sharing resources, including artists, to create a cohesive and consistently thematic set of mech sculptures across all of its incarnations. Enjoy your test drive in first-person or isometric mode? Why not buy your own, and paint it up to suit your taste?

Image: Catalyst . Game Lab

Catalyst has its own expansion plan. The company says an upcoming crowdfunding campaign will unlock 50 new designs, including a range of plastic tanks and flying vehicles. The campaign will launch in time AdeptiCon 2023 this spring.

“By any metric, BattleTech is more successful and popular than ever,” said Catalyst. “With Kickstarter Mercenaries coming and leading BattleTechcelebrating our 40th anniversary, it is likely that our current amazing success will be overshadowed when BattleTech Reach more fans.