MechWarrior Online to use CryEngine 3

Piranha Games' upcoming MechWarrior Online may be a free-to-play game, but it promises not to look cheap. The company has licensed the highly-regarded CryEngine 3 to power the online game, and is one of "over 20" F2P games currently in development using Crytek's engine.

"It is definitely the best choice for us," Piranha Games president Russ Bullock said in a press release. "Both the character animation pipeline with the procedurally and physics based animations and the destruction system fit our goals perfectly."

"2012 will see a new segment in the games industry – as free-to-play games will step up to offer true AAA quality to gamers," Crytek's Carl Jones added. "Both Piranha and Crytek believe in the potential of this market and we look forward to helping them achieve their vision for an amazing game experience."

While MechWarrior Online may be free-to-play, the developer has promised that it is not "pay-2-win." Players will be able to purchase new gear, but that won't necessarily give them the upperhand in combat.