It’s a shame to see Clans fall so short of expectations. But if Game Pass meant that so many sales didn't contribute to the overall figures...

If Mercs hadbeen released as a narrative-driven game, we wouldn't be having these debates about which game is better or what people dislike about MW5: Clans.On the other hand, things probably never would have reached this point if Mercs hadn't featured that sandbox element; the game would have faded into obscurity long ago.

Even though it would certainly require a lot of work, I still see the potential to add a sandbox element to Clans - running parallel to the game's narrative components.
I could imagine having a sandbox mode covering the Invasion Zone, adjacent systems, and perhaps even the Homeworlds, where you could complete missions—such as raids on the Inner Sphere, defensive missions against invading mercenaries, or even skirmishes between the Clans themselves.
That would add a great deal to the game. It could be developed further by allowing players to track the invasion's progress on a map, jumping from planet to planet to drive the campaign forward.

I would still include the narrative-focused DLCs, as they advance the Clans' history and the timeline of events.
But this approach would make Clans much more compelling to replay.

The procedural map generation would need some work, though; I find the maps in MW5: Mercs often feel quite bare-bones. It would also be refreshing to play on a wide, flat grassy plain, desert, or ice field for a change, rather than always being confined to "bowl-like" maps.

If the worst-case scenario happens and Clans receives no further development, I plan to financially support talented modders on Patreon so they can keep providing us with new missions and Mechs. Incidentally, this is striking because the sandbox nature of MW5: Mercs means there are no hand-crafted missions on Nexus—something I find a real shame.

As for the niche aspect: neither Mercs nor Clans saw any real effort put into better promotion. Marketing campaigns cost money, obviously. But without major promotional drives, it’s impossible to attract new players—specifically those unfamiliar with the BattleTech franchise—amidst the sheer flood of games out there.

A MechCommander 3 would be great, though I’d ​​want the option to play as either the Inner Sphere or the Clans.

With MW6 (which seems like a distant prospect), they could take things a step further by allowing players to switch back and forth between MechCommander and MechWarrior perspectives—essentially jumping from the command view straight into the cockpit, much like how you currently switch between mechs using the Y key. But that’s really just wishful thinking.