MechWarrior Online Officially Announced, Concept Art

We already told you about MechWarrior Online’s reveal yesterday, but now we have an official press release that confirms the news while also going into a few more details about the game. As long as we can be hired for missions with AI-controlled mechs and aren’t forced into PvP-style matches continuously, this could be great:

INFINITE GAME PUBLISHING TO PUBLISH MECHWARRIOR® ONLINE
Piranha Games brings the long-awaited MechWarrior® as a Free-To-Play PC game
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, NOVEMBER 1, 2011 – Infinite Game Publishing Inc. (www.infinitegamepublishing.com) and Piranha Games Inc. (www.piranha-games.com) have announced MechWarrior® Onlineâ„¢ (www.mwomercs.com), the first officially licensed free-to-play title in the long-standing and award-winning MechWarrior® franchise. MechWarrior Online is set to launch in the second half of 2012 from newly formed digital publisher, Infinite Game Publishing.
Set in the year 3049 during the early stages of a massive interstellar war, MechWarrior Online puts you in command of the most powerful war machine to ever walk the field of battle, the mighty BattleMechâ„¢. Command your Mechâ„¢ and customize it to suit your battlefield role; upgrade systems, replace weapons, and tweak armor with endless options.
MechWarrior Online lets players command at will: go head-to-head online alone or with friends in high-octane Conquest and VS modes. Band together and form your own Mercenary Corp, invite friends and battle other player-made Merc Corps for prestige and power. Pledge your allegiance to one of the five great houses and fight for control of precious Inner Sphere planets.
You will play a key role in a dynamic and ever-changing universe where player exploits impact the world around you and daily story updates and frequent content additions create epic changes to the Inner Sphere universe and its many inhabitants.
MechWarrior Online delivers a rich online experience, rewarding everything a player does with experience points, C-Bills, unlocks, and recognition. Upgrade skills and refine your role in gameplay using an all-new leveling system, and up-to-the minute detailed player statistics allow you to compare, track and share your progress with other players.
(We’re excited to lead the MechWarrior franchise online for fans of the series,) said Russ Bullock, co-founder of Piranha Games. (We’re proud to partner with Infinite Game Publishing, and are thankful for the fans of the MechWarrior series that have been so patient for the next MechWarrior game to arrive. Infinite Game is a partner who understands both the world of games publishing and the crucial technical needs of today’s AAA online gaming experiences. Together we are bringing fans epic next-generation Mech combat online in 2012.)
More information about MechWarrior Online at www.mwomercs.com.
About Piranha Games, Inc.
Piranha Games Inc. was founded in January 2000 by Russ Bullock and Bryan Ekman. Piranha Games is focused on the core action games market and has worked on exciting IPs such as: Need For Speed®, Transformers® 2: Revenge of the Fallen and Duke Nukem Forever®.
Please join us at www.piranha-games.com
About Infinite Game Publishing Inc.
Infinite Games is a newly formed publisher of AAA online interactive entertainment. Formed by industry vets with a passion for great games, IGP’s leadership is driving online entertainment forward by partnering with best-in-breed developers to bring high-octane excitement to PC gamers everywhere. Official Web site: www.infinitegamepublishing.com

Additionally, there are four new pieces of concept art for you to check out over in our image gallery.