Over 300,000 players on Steam is a huge success – but Mecha Break is already facing a steep crash.
Mecha Break; has quickly catapulted itself to the top of the Steam charts – at least in terms of player numbers. The new multiplayer mecha shooter from Amazing Seasun Games attracted over 317,000 simultaneous players in its open beta within just a few hours.
This means that the game outperforms even heavyweights like GTA 5 and ranks just behind long-running favorites like Counter Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds and Dota 2. But while the player numbers are impressive, the Steam reviews look bleak: Only 33 percent of the reviews are currently positive.
Mech battles with frustration factors
Mecha Break was revealed at the end of 2023 at the Game Awards and caused a stir with its stylish mech design and explosive effects gameplay. The open beta, which started on February 23, should now further fuel the hype – but instead, it’s met with criticism.
The first major point of frustration for many players is the tutorial, which proves to be surprisingly lengthy and unhelpful at the same time. Some report spending nearly an hour on the introductory section and two forced AI matches before they could even enter the actual game.
Another hotly debated topic is the use of a kernel-level anti-cheat, which intervenes deeply in the system and must be removed manually after uninstalling the game.
This type of anti-cheat software has a bad reputation in the gaming community, as it is often considered a security risk or evenChinese spyware
Some players also report blue screens that may be related to the anti-cheat solution.
Monetization is causing worry lines
Although Mecha Break, with its mix of Titanfall, Armored Core and Gundam, has struck a chord in terms of gameplay, many players are also concerned about the monetization. While the first beta was still perceived as fair, some players are now accusing the developer of establishing a potential Pay2Win model with battle passes and in-game currencies.
A particularly critical point is unlocking new mechs, which, according to some players, is unnecessarily grind-heavy. Certain units cost extremely high amounts of in-game currency, so Free2Play players may have to play for weeks while Battle Pass buyers get direct access.
One user writes:
I really want to like this game, but if it continues to develop in this way, it will be hard to keep up.
Comparisons with Gundam Evolution – a failed mecha shooter that quickly lost players due to its monetization strategy – are already being drawn.
Of course, not all voices are negative: many praise the actual gameplay, which feels fast, dynamic and powerful. Some even compare Mecha Break to a Dragon Ball Z in mech form, while others enthusiastically celebrate the mix of different mecha games.
The big question now is: Can Amazing Seasun Games mitigate the criticisms before the official release in spring 2025? Or will Mecha Break follow the sad fate of many other ambitious multiplayer games that failed due to monetization and design decisions?
After Marvel Rivals recently impressed with its fair monetization and can still look back on strong user numbers almost three months later, many players are likely to have even less desire for Pay2Win and excessive grind.
