They just announced the target for the Backer Beta is March 15th.
I saw, guess every second question will now become "What 'Mechs will be in the Backer Beta?" instead :)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/battletech/posts/1801796TL:DR
Late Reinforcement pledge pricing going up by $10 Feb 15th.
Backer Beta March 15th *knock on wood*
Backer Beta will run about two months.
Backer Beta is 1v1 multiplayer and single player skermish only. No campaign, no merc management or 'Mech modification (last may change later).
Backer Beta 'Mechs not yet revealed at this time.
Backer Beta isn't under an NDA (so spamspamspam your social media/friends)
Backer Beta is Windows and Mac only and is via Steam only
Backer Beta feedback by their forums rather than Steam though
Heir Apparent - first of the four Stackpole novellas is out on Backerkit!
BattleTech Merc - coasts and stein
Next HBS Dev Q&A is Feb 8th 12pm PT -
https://www.twitch.tv/ngngtv - with the game's lead writer as well as Mitch Gitelman