logo
Battletech Embraces The Multiverse With A Gothic Boxed Set

Battletech Embraces The Multiverse With A Gothic Boxed Set

Forbes04-04-2025

Space operas like Star Wars and Dune project epic tales across the stars. On the tabletop side, games like Battletech and Warhammer 40,000 take up their own massive stories. The makers of Battletech recently announced an upcoming project that's something of a cover album of the grim dark future where there is only war.
Battletech: Gothic was publicly announced last week at Adepticon in Milwaukee, WI. The boxed set features new sculpts and battle maps. More importantly, it offers a darker take on historical events in the Battletech timeline.
In this version, humanity's lust for war has turned grim. Not only do grand factions war for dwindling resources on devastated planets but they must also contend against abominations. These twisted fusions of flesh and steel challenge mechwarriors for mastery of the battlefield.
'As a long-time fan of science fiction settings, one of my favorite riffs has long been the 'what if?' possibilities they offer,' said Herbert A. Beas II, author of the Battletech: Gothic setting. "Now, while just about every sci-fi technically asks and answers that very question, what I'm talking about here is the kind of 'what if?' that spawns from a fictional universe that's already steeped in its own deep lore. Be it Star Trek's 'Mirror Universe,' the 'Nightmares of Futures Past' take on the superhero universe of Marvel Comics, DC's 'Injustice' universe, or the 'Shattered Glass' variation on Transformers—so many engaging, altered takes on the characters and stories we enjoyed one way have proven that we can always look at them in a new and different way that are just as compelling, while still enriching our love of their original timelines. As a writer and player of many a Battletech storyline, I have long asked the 'what if?' question about established lore, but it wasn't until I produced 2014's Halloween-themed adventure supplement Empires Aflame that I seriously entertained a deep dive into the realm of alternative Battletech histories. I had an absolute blast on that project, and kind of wanted to do more ever since! [When]
The box is the first entry in the Continuum series which will explore different versions of the setting with lternate histories and aesthetics. Each boxed set is a one and done affair though the components will remain compatible with mainline products for players who want to take advantage of the unique looks of the redesigned mechs. Battletech: Gothic will contain record sheets for A Game of Armored Combat and cards for Alpha Strike.
'I've worked on Battletech for thirty years now," said Randall N. Bills, Creative Director for Catalyst Game Labs. "From game creation and development to art direction, writing novels to lore coordination with computer games, to everything in between. Yet Battletech: Gothic was a moment to step into a new space, creating the first official alternate setting for this game I've loved and played now for forty years. Working closely with Marco Mazzoni to hone his stunning art; coordinating with Herb Beas for the creation of this dark universe; meshing with Ray Arrastia to ensure we kept it all within some boundaries; to working alongside our manufacturer, Liya, to take the plastic models to new heights of quality and customization for Battletech fans of every stripe: this was such a creatively challenging and rewarding experience! Can't wait to see these designs on gaming tables everywhere. While we're already starting development of our next Continuum game setting in Rockets & Rayguns, an homage to the golden age of science fiction.'
Battletech: Gothic is currently expected for a summer 2025 release.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Disney, NBCUniversal sue AI creator Midjourney in copyright dispute
Disney, NBCUniversal sue AI creator Midjourney in copyright dispute

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Disney, NBCUniversal sue AI creator Midjourney in copyright dispute

June 11 (UPI) -- Disney and NBCUniversal have joined legal teams in a lawsuit against AI image maker Midjourney over multiple claims of copyright infringement. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in California's U.S. central district claimed that Midjourney, a generative artificial intelligence startup, utilized and distributed proprietary AI-generated characters from NBCU and Disney productions such as the Simpsons, Star Wars, Toy Story, Shrek and others. It marked the first AI-related infringement lawsuit taken on by a Hollywood giant. "This is an extremely significant development," IP lawyer Chad Hummel told Wired. Meanwhile, Universal and Disney have petitioned for a jury trial and argue it risks upending "the bedrock incentives of U.S. copyright law." The two plaintiffs claimed that Midjourney's own website displayed "hundreds, if not thousands, of images generated by its Image Service at the request of its subscribers" they believed infringed on their copyrighted works. "Midjourney's bootlegging business model and defiance of U.S copyright law are not only an attack on Disney, Universal, and the hard-working creative community that brings the magic of movies to life, but are also a broader threat to the American motion picture industry," the complaint continued. The joint suit further says that San Francisco-based Midjourney allegedly ignored prior legal requests to cease and desist and included dozens of examples in the complaint, calling Midjourney a "bottomless pit of plagiarism." In 2023, Midjourney reported more than $200 million in revenue and in 2024 took in an additional $100 million on top of it to beat the prior year. "Midjourney, which has attracted millions of subscribers and made $300 million last year alone, is focused on its own bottom line and ignored Plaintiffs' demands," according to court documents. The two movie studios seek an unspecified amount in monetary damages, and further requested injunctive relief in order to prevent Midjourney from any future copyright violations.

Disney, NBCUniversal sue AI creator Midjourney in copyright dispute
Disney, NBCUniversal sue AI creator Midjourney in copyright dispute

Miami Herald

time2 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Disney, NBCUniversal sue AI creator Midjourney in copyright dispute

June 11 (UPI) -- Disney and NBCUniversal have joined legal teams in a lawsuit against AI image maker Midjourney over multiple claims of copyright infringement. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in California's U.S. central district claimed that Midjourney, a generative artificial intelligence startup, utilized and distributed proprietary AI-generated characters from NBCU and Disney productions such as the Simpsons, Star Wars, Toy Story, Shrek and others. It marked the first AI-related infringement lawsuit taken on by a Hollywood giant. "This is an extremely significant development," IP lawyer Chad Hummel told Wired. Meanwhile, Universal and Disney have petitioned for a jury trial and argue it risks upending "the bedrock incentives of U.S. copyright law." The two plaintiffs claimed that Midjourney's own website displayed "hundreds, if not thousands, of images generated by its Image Service at the request of its subscribers" they believed infringed on their copyrighted works. "Midjourney's bootlegging business model and defiance of U.S copyright law are not only an attack on Disney, Universal, and the hard-working creative community that brings the magic of movies to life, but are also a broader threat to the American motion picture industry," the complaint continued. The joint suit further says that San Francisco-based Midjourney allegedly ignored prior legal requests to cease and desist and included dozens of examples in the complaint, calling Midjourney a "bottomless pit of plagiarism." In 2023, Midjourney reported more than $200 million in revenue and in 2024 took in an additional $100 million on top of it to beat the prior year. "Midjourney, which has attracted millions of subscribers and made $300 million last year alone, is focused on its own bottom line and ignored Plaintiffs' demands," according to court documents. The two movie studios seek an unspecified amount in monetary damages, and further requested injunctive relief in order to prevent Midjourney from any future copyright violations. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Google offers buyouts to more workers amid AI-driven tech upheaval and antitrust uncertainty
Google offers buyouts to more workers amid AI-driven tech upheaval and antitrust uncertainty

Boston Globe

time3 hours ago

  • Boston Globe

Google offers buyouts to more workers amid AI-driven tech upheaval and antitrust uncertainty

Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up ENTERTAINMENT Advertisement Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement The headquarters of The Walt Disney Co. in Burbank, Calif. Beth Coller/NYT Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the complaint claims Midjourney pirated the libraries of the two Hollywood studios to generate and distribute 'endless unauthorized copies' of their famed characters, such as Darth Vader from 'Star Wars' and the Minions from 'Despicable Me.' 'Midjourney is the quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism. Piracy is piracy, and whether an infringing image or video is made with AI or another technology does not make it any less infringing,' the companies state in the complaint. The studios also claimed the San Francisco-based AI company ignored their requests to stop infringing on their copyrighted works and to take technological measures to halt such image generation. Midjourney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. — ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement ENTERTAINMENT Nintendo Switch 2 sets sales record in boon for games sector A customer posed with a Nintendo Switch 2 game console at a Bic Camera Inc. electronics store in Tokyo on June 5. Kiyoshi Ota/Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomb Nintendo Co. sold 3.5 million-plus units of the Switch 2 in just four days, a record-breaking start for the company's first new console in eight years. The Japanese company has already sold more of the device than the roughly 2.7 million the original Switch managed during its first month in 2017. The numbers, released by the company Wednesday, bode well for its target to sell 15 million units by March next year. They also reinforce analysts' projections that Nintendo may be able to sell far more if it can pump up supply. Gamers from Tokyo to San Francisco lined up for hours last week to get their hands on one of the most highly anticipated gadgets of the year. The long-awaited Switch 2 succeeds a global hit in the original, which pioneered a hybrid design that allows play both at home on a TV and on the move. The release of the new Switch was regarded as a watershed moment for the industry, steering business decisions by partners and competitors for years to come. At a time of thinning margins and exploding development budgets, a popular new console may galvanize the sector and provide a counterbalance to the increasing dominance of a handful of marquee, live-service games. — BLOOMBERG NEWS Advertisement ENERGY World Bank ends its ban on funding nuclear power projects Two cooling towers of the Civaux nuclear power plant in Civaux, central France. ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images The world's largest and most influential development bank said Wednesday that it would lift its long-standing ban on funding nuclear power projects. The decision by the board of the World Bank could have profound implications for the ability of developing countries to industrialize without burning planet-warming fuels such as coal and oil. The ban has been formally in place since 2013, but the last time the bank funded a nuclear power project was 1959 in Italy. In the decades since, a few of the bank's major funders, particularly Germany, have opposed its involvement in nuclear energy, on the grounds that the risk of catastrophic accidents in poor countries with less expertise in nuclear technology was unacceptably high. The bank's policy shift, described in an email to employees late Wednesday, comes as nuclear power is experiencing a global surge in support. Casting nuclear power as an essential replacement for fossil fuels, more than 20 countries — including the United States, Canada, France, and Ghana — signed a pledge to triple nuclear power by 2050 at the United Nations' flagship climate conference two years ago. The Trump administration, while far less concerned about climate change than it is with competing against the Russian and Chinese nuclear industries, is trying to expand the fleet of American reactors and quadruple their contribution to the country's electric grids. Cabinet officials have emphasized support for a new generation of smaller reactors that offer the promise of faster deployment but have yet to be proven. The United States is the World Bank's single largest shareholder and holds significant sway over its policies. In April, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the bank to lift its ban, saying in a speech that doing so would 'revolutionize energy supply for many emerging markets.' — NEW YORK TIMES Advertisement AUTOMAKERS GM dodges tariffs with production shift to US from Mexico The General Motors assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg General Motors plans to invest $4 billion in its US plants over the next two years in response to President Trump's tariffs in a move that reduces production in Mexico while boosting domestic output of some of its some of its top-selling gas-powered vehicles. The spending will expand factories in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee. The moves will boost annual US production capacity by 300,000 vehicles, GM chief financial officer Paul Jacobson said at a Deutsche Bank conference on Wednesday Assembly of several top-selling models, including its very profitable Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks and the Chevrolet Equinox SUV, will move to factories in the United States from Mexico. GM plans to add between 3,000 and 4,000 US jobs when all production is in place, a spokesman said. The shift marks one of the biggest pivots yet by an automaker in response to Trump's tariffs that have upended the economics of automobile manufacturing. It's also a recognition by chief executive Mary Barra that Trump's trade war is not a passing phase. The investments will allow GM to produce more than 2 million vehicles in the United States each year. GM will continue making vehicles affected by the announcement in Mexico, but at lower volumes, the person said. — BLOOMBERG NEWS Advertisement

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store