Mechabellum 2.0: Steam Free Edition, Star Expedition, and −40% — what changes today

On September 22, 2026, Mechabellum jumps to 2.0: the biggest update since launch (1.0 on September 26, 2024), announced by Game River / Dreamhaven as the game nears 700,000 copies sold and keeps a Steam Very Positive (~84%) score.

This is not a plain patch-notes dump. Three things actually change for a PC player today:

• a Steam Free Edition so you can jump in without paying
• a new Star Expedition mode (async roguelite solo / 2-player co-op)
• a −40% sale on the full game (and soon a free week on Epic)

In this DropReference piece we compare Free Edition vs full version, explain what Star Expedition and the Centurion change in-game, and give you the exact dates so you don’t miss the window. Primary sources: Games Press (09/21/2026), Steam page, and US Steam prices checked on 09/22/2026.

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From September 22, 2026, a "Play Mechabellum - Free Edition" button shows up on the Steam page. Publisher goal: zero entry barrier. Free Edition players get the vast majority of the content and can upgrade to the full version whenever they want — progression is built to carry over (not a throwaway account).

Official restrictions (Games Press) are minor but real:

• public chat limited
• inventory / warehouse capacity reduced
• reward acquisition speed slowed

DropReference take: Free Edition is there to test the auto-battler feel + Star Expedition before you open your wallet. If you’re grinding ranked 1v1 / 2v2 and want the comfort (chat, storage, rewards), the upgrade makes sense — especially with the −40% sale.

Link: Mechabellum on Steam.

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Star Expedition is the real “content” centerpiece of 2.0. Game River frames it as a mode mixing roguelite elements and asynchronous combat, playable solo or in 2-player co-op.

What changes vs classic ladder:

• a campaign across 9 planets to conquer
• random variables (units, techs, reinforcements, player mirrors) → replayability
• async combat with no round timer: you set your comp at your own pace
• in co-op: each commander leads their own army on a shared battlefield
• expedition rewards that feed into later runs

For DropReference readers (PC gaming, irregular sessions), this is the mode that most justifies 2.0: you can play without ranked pressure, with a friend, in one long sitting or split sessions. Existing owners get 2.0 for free — no paid DLC required for this mode.

The Centurion is the new headline unit. Official concept: a flexible mech with a precision rifle, able to play long range, mid-range suppression with dual rifles, or switch to melee mode to charge the line. Exclusive techs let it swap roles with the draft.

Around it: dozens of new Reinforcement Cards, Techs, and Specialists, plus a batch of balance tweaks. The point isn’t to memorize a list: 2025 comps aren’t “frozen” anymore — the 2.0 meta will shift, especially with Star Expedition forcing adaptation.

Side system: the Battle Contract (Standard free for everyone, with the 2nd-anniversary cosmetic contract; Elite as a non-expiring paid DLC). Worth noting because it ships in the same launch, but it’s not the core Free Edition / Star Expedition pitch.

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Anniversary / 2.0 launch promo (Games Press): −40% from September 21 to October 9, 2026. US Steam price checked on September 22, 2026:

• Mechabellum (base): $14.99 → $8.99 (−40%)

Other bundles cited by the publisher (US list prices; always re-check your Steam cart): Golden Age Edition and Elite Battle Contract also at −40% at launch. We don’t invent unverified prices — look at the cart when you click buy.

Epic Games Store: full Mechabellum is announced free from September 24 to October 1, 2026 (standard EGS window; end flagged around 5 p.m. CET / 17:00 Paris time on October 1 per EGS comms picked up by press). Add-to-library during the window = permanent copy.

Simple playbook:

• You want to play now on Steam with Steam friends → Free Edition today, −40% upgrade if it clicks
• You’re all-in on Epic and can wait 48h → free claim on 09/24
• You already own the game → download 2.0, run Star Expedition, skip the bundles

DropReference mental table:

• Stay on Free Edition if you’re discovering the auto-battler, want solo Star Expedition, and chat/inventory/reward limits don’t bother you
• Steam upgrade (−40%) if you ranked / social / farm rewards, or want comfort before the sale ends (10/09)
• Wait for the Epic claim (09/24–10/01) if you don’t need Steam this week and want the full game free
• Don’t double-buy: Steam and Epic are separate libraries — pick your main platform

Reminder: players who already own Mechabellum get 2.0 at no extra cost. Free Edition and the sale mainly target newcomers.

Yes in the Steam sense: a lasting free edition on the store page from 09/22/2026, with minor limits and an optional upgrade — not a temporary free weekend.

Yes. 2.0 is free for owners; Star Expedition is part of that update, not a separate paid DLC for the mode.

Per Games Press: September 21 to October 9, 2026. Always re-check the Steam countdown on the day.

EGS / press messaging talks about Mechabellum as a library freebie (retail value cited ~$14.99), so the full version to claim, separate from Steam Free Edition. Window 09/24–10/01/2026.

Too early to say. On paper it’s a flexible unit (range / mid / melee). Wait a few days of ladder + Star Expedition before sinking hours into one comps.

Only if you want the cosmetic / Premium / contracts pack. To play 2.0 + Star Expedition, base game (or Free Edition / Epic claim) is enough.

Mechabellum 2.0 checks what you want from a mid-life update: a structuring new mode (Star Expedition), a Free Edition on-ramp, and an aggressive price window (−40% Steam, then free on Epic). Centurion and new cards/techs widen the meta, but for a DropReference reader the question today is how to enter (or come back) without picking the wrong platform or timing.

Today’s move (09/22): install Free Edition or update your copy, start a Star Expedition run, and decide before October 9 (Steam) or September 24 (if you’re aiming for free Epic) whether you upgrade.

Sources: Games Press — Mechabellum 2.0 · Steam — Mechabellum · Steam News 2.0.