It follows the freemium model of game monetization, where in-game purchases are the main source of revenue.

In 2020, a group of fans have revived an offline version of the game for PC, with future plans for multiplayer support, under the project title "Hawakening.

The game takes place in a dystopian human-colonized planet industrialized to the point of collapse, in which the hunt for resources has become a battle for survival.

[11] The player assumes the role of a pilot within a biped battle mech—armed with a variety of ballistic cannons and missile weaponry.

Relatively agile, these machines are equipped with booster jets that allow them to travel faster and hover in short jumps.

Unlike many other first-person shooters, weapons have unlimited ammunition, but are prone to overheating during sustained fire.

Overheating will shut down all weapons of the mech, forcing the player to find a safe place to recover.

Players can choose alternate weapons, equipment and upgrades for all mech types to match a playstyle or to fill a specific role for a team.

Hawken consists of ten playable maps: Bazaar, Bunker, Facility, Front Line, Highways, Last Eco, Origin, Prosk, Uptown, and Wreckage.

In addition, the player has the option of switching in-game from first-person to third-person view, and can respawn as a different mech.

Hawken primarily generated revenue from player purchased currency (Mech credits, or MC), which is how the game operated on a free-to-play business model.

[19] The game's combination of first-person shooter and mecha combat was compared to Shogo: Mobile Armor Division from 1998.

Now the race is on to discover the virus’ origins and true purpose before their respective clans wipe each other out in a final, climactic battle."

The story will follow two young pilots from separate clans pitted against one another after a devastating virus has covered most of the heavily industrialized planet surface in toxic crystal.