{"rewrite":{"id":"r_ccc8be534c3c133188a1ee9c","clusterId":"c_ce4cfa103f11cabb924cfc2c","slug":"mechabellum-2-0-update-adds-roguelite-mode-and-a-free-edition-on-steam","model":"deepseek-v4-1-flash","headline":"Mechabellum 2.0 Update Adds Roguelite Mode And A Free Edition On Steam","summary":"Game River released a major update for the mecha auto battler Mechabellum on September 22, billed as the game's 2.0 version and marking the second anniversary of its official release. It adds Star Expedition, a roguelite mode for solo play and online two-player co-op across nine planets, plus Battle Contracts, a new Centurion unit, upgrade elements and balance changes. A restricted Free Edition is now on Steam and the full game is 40 percent off until October 2.","whyItMatters":"The free version lowers the cost of trying an auto battler whose depth sits in unit matchups and round-to-round drafting, which is the part a demo cannot convey without handing over the matchmaking loop itself.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eStar Expedition drops players into a space run against nine planets worth of enemies. Formations there are randomly drawn from real players\u0026#39; builds, and the fights run asynchronously, so there is no clock to fight against. Finishing an expedition pays out items that carry into the next attempt.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBattle Contracts arrive alongside it, split into free Standard contracts and paid Elite ones, both issued on a regular schedule and redeemed for customization items by simply playing. The update also adds the Centurion unit and touches balance across the roster.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStar Expedition\u003c/strong\u003e: roguelite mode for solo and online two-player co-op across nine planets\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBattle Contracts\u003c/strong\u003e: free Standard and paid Elite contracts issued regularly for customization items\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCenturion\u003c/strong\u003e: new unit\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBalance adjustments\u003c/strong\u003e: wide-ranging changes plus new upgrade elements\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","blueskyPost":"Mechabellum's Free Edition arrives restricted on Steam, not as a demo. Game River is betting the 2.0 roguelite mode converts free players before the 40 percent discount ends October 2.","twitterPost":"Mechabellum's Free Edition is restricted, not a demo. Game River is betting Star Expedition converts free players before the discount ends.","threadsPost":"Mechabellum's Free Edition is restricted, not a demo, and it lands alongside the 2.0 update rather than after it. Game River is betting Star Expedition's nine-planet roguelite loop converts free players before the 40 percent discount ends October 2.","newsletterBlurb":"Game River shipped a major Mechabellum update on September 22, styled as the game's 2.0 version and tied to the second anniversary of its official release. It adds Star Expedition, a roguelite mode for solo and online two-player co-op, along with Battle Contracts, a new Centurion unit and balance changes. A Free Edition with restrictions on chat, inventory and reward pacing is now available on Steam, and the full game is 40 percent off until October 2.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260922-469410/\",\"title\":\"Steam Mecha Auto Battler \\\"Mechabellum\\\" Gets a \\\"Free Edition\\\"; Arrives Alongside Major Update Adding Roguelite Mode and More\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4601,"outputTokens":768,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1791128669,"createdAt":"2026-10-04T15:41:32.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-10-04T15:43:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-04T15:43:23.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_ce4cfa103f11cabb924cfc2c","canonicalTitle":"Steamメカオートバトラー『メカベラム』に“無料版”が登場。ローグライトモードなど実装の大型アプデを引っ提げて","representativeArticleId":"a_cffbf03eed0ec85b7107437b","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Mechabellum\"],\"studios\":[\"Game River\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"release\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-09-22T10:34:47.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-09-22T10:34:47.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-04T15:43:20.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260922-469410/","title":"Steamメカオートバトラー『メカベラム』に“無料版”が登場。ローグライトモードなど実装の大型アプデを引っ提げて"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Mechabellum"],"studios":["Game River"],"people":[],"type":"release","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}