The last couple of months have seen a considerable amount of noise coming from BattleTech's MechWarrior franchise, and that din grew even louder today. Today, Roadhouse Interactive and A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. announced MechWarrior Tactics, a free-to-play turn-based strategy title coming to the PC in 2012.

　　Nothing says intense mech-on-mech combat like turn-based strategy. MechWarrior Tactics is set in the year 3025, with five factions vying for control of the known universe. The tumultuous backdrop provides gamers with a conquest-oriented battlefield and increases their standing on global leaderboards.

　　Being a free-to-play, microtransaction-based title based on BattleTech's notable role-playing IP, MechWarrior Tactics emphasizes extensive customization of mech units. Players will be able to gain new mechs, abilities, and customization options by progressing in the game or through in-game transactions.

　　Though both games will be free-to-play when they launch, MechWarrior Tactics and Piranha Games' MechWarrior Online should not be confused. The latter title, which is slated to arrive this summer, has an action-oriented play style and will use Crytek's CryEngine 3.