In an open letter to MechWarrior fans WizKid's Joe Hauck stated that while he has 'no intention of canceling MechWarrior,' he feels that the game's 'current overall business model does not work for anyone.'  Earlier this year WizKids attempted some minor modifications to the game (see 'WizKids Tweaks MechWarrior'), but according to Hauck, 'none of these low-impact changes worked as well as we hoped.  So now we have to resort to stronger measures.' 

One of the first concrete steps that WizKids is taking is replacing the MechWarrior: Outlaws Expansion (see 'MechWarrior & BSG Expansions') with a different product configuration.  During 2007 WizKids now plans to produce a series of Action Packs similar to the Poseidon Action Pack for MechWarrior and the X-Men Danger Room Game for Marvel HeroClix.  The Action Packs will feature new Mech configurations and new sculpts.

WizKids is also promising a 2007 release for the rules and play system for gladiatorial type battles on the planet Solaris VII -- rules that will be available for tournament use by next summer.  Hauck pledged that the new games, Action Packs and rules will be backward compatible with MechWarrior fans' current collections -- and the company also pledges to 'continue organized play support for MechWarrior.'