Bravemech: The Century War has launched in Steam Early Access for PC, with developer and publisher Bravemech Studio announcing its November 2, 2026, release at a price of $24.99. The mecha-themed action strategy RPG combines side-scrolling combat, tactical fleet management and character progression within a century-spanning military campaign. A free playable demo is also available on Steam.
The game places players in command of a warship involved in a prolonged conflict between the Star Alliance and the Trinity Empire. Rather than controlling an entire fleet, players manage a single vessel, its pilots and its crew while participating directly in battles as an ace mech pilot. The campaign follows multiple generations of characters as command responsibilities pass from one generation to the next.
Bravemech features real-time, side-view mech battles across space and planetary environments. Players can fly their machines, use energy shields, manage heat levels and attack enemies with firearms, missiles, swords and charged energy weapons. Certain mechs can transform into aircraft, while damaged units can return to their carrier during combat for repairs and ammunition.
Alternatively, players can command engagements from the warship’s bridge instead of piloting a mech themselves. This tactical mode allows commanders to issue orders to AI-controlled squad members, including attacking enemies, defending the ship, maintaining formations and returning to the carrier.
Outside combat, the strategic layer involves navigating a sector map, assigning crews to operations, managing resources and trading at ports. Players can also customize their mechs with equipment from five competing weapons manufacturers, upgrade their pilots and ships, and salvage special Bravecores from defeated bosses.
The Century Campaign includes 400 named characters with individual backstories and more than 9,000 lines of dialogue, according to the developer. Players can choose either of the two opposing factions, each offering its own characters and campaign storyline. The game also features English, Japanese and Chinese voice performances, with the studio listing more than 68,000 voice clips.
Bravemech Studio says the complete Century Campaign is already included in Early Access, covering 100 years for either faction and offering four endings. However, combat balancing, difficulty adjustments and additional features remain under development. An optional Pilot Campaign also offers a roguelite-style experience, while Hardcore difficulty introduces more severe consequences for losing key units.
Multiplayer currently supports up to four players sharing one screen, with full controller support. Friends can participate in cooperative campaign battles or compete in one-versus-one and two-versus-two matches through the VERSUS mode. Online cooperative play and online competitive multiplayer are planned for future updates but are not currently available.
The developer has also disclosed the use of generative AI tools during production. According to the game’s Steam disclosure, AI-assisted processes contributed to portions of its artwork, animation, voice acting, music, writing and translation. The studio states that these elements were developed around its original designs and creative direction, and that no content is generated by AI during gameplay.
The disclosure comes amid broader discussion about generative AI in PC game development, following findings that nearly half of Steam games released in October 2026 disclosed generative AI use.
Bravemech: The Century War requires Windows 10 or later, 8GB of RAM, a dedicated graphics card with 8GB of VRAM and 15GB of available storage under its listed minimum specifications. The recommended configuration increases memory to 16GB and graphics memory to 16GB of VRAM.
The Steam demo includes the first 30 weeks of the Century Campaign, an introductory portion of the Pilot Campaign and limited VERSUS battles. Players who purchase the Early Access version will receive subsequent updates through version 1.0 without additional charges, although Bravemech Studio says the game’s price will increase when it leaves Early Access.
