Revealed at Summer Game Fest last June, the new title in the Gundam series, 'GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT', generated buzz on multiple fronts. As a series rooted in anime, most people expected anime-style visuals or designs derived from it, but the game drew eyes by showcasing heavy Mobile Suit action with realistic metallic textures. Furthermore, its radical shift away from the traditional Gundam vs. Gundam or human vs. human dynamic in favor of humanity battling an alien entity also became a hot topic among fans.
With Mobile Suit Gundam having passed its 47th anniversary of broadcast and heading toward its 50th, why release a title with such a radically different tone? Following Summer Game Fest, we sat down at TGS 2026 with Bandai Namco Entertainment producer Yuya Tomiyama and director Yoshiyuki Serizawa to hear more about the game.
It is unusual that voice actor Tomoaki Maeno voices Vii, the protagonist's Haro partner. Haro has traditionally been a mascot-like presence in the series, so is there a specific reason for casting such a deep-voiced actor to give it a stronger presence?
Producer Tomiyama: GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT is set in a completely new universe. Because of that, we wanted Vii, the Haro appearing as the protagonist's partner, to tell its own story unlike previous Haros. We hope you look forward to seeing how Vii appears in the main game and what role it will play.
Director Serizawa: In this game, players step into the shoes of the protagonist, Rex, to unfold the narrative. As you progress through missions, you'll hear countless conversations from all around. Establishing Haro as a capable partner and supporter to the protagonist in such situations was one of the key reasons.
Given that it's a game about fighting alien entities, we expected radical mecha designs, but they felt relatively tame. Will more unique or unconventional Mobile Suits be introduced later?
Producer Tomiyama: One of the most important goals for ROGUE ORBIT is to introduce Gundam to players worldwide. It is crucial not only to appeal to existing Gundam fans, but also to make it compelling as an action game for people who know nothing about Gundam. To achieve this, we took on the challenge of hyper-realistic presentation and went through extensive trial and error, creating a realistic design while preserving what makes it feel distinctly Gundam.
In particular, designers from Bandai Namco Studios who have long contributed to the Gundam series worked on the Mobile Suit designs. Incorporating their insights, the final look is the result of brainstorming how to achieve a realistic appearance. We hope you look forward to how these efforts will unfold in the future.
The atmosphere is quite different from other Gundam series we've seen so far. What themes and story were you looking to portray?
Producer Tomiyama: It's still difficult to share specific themes and story details. However, while this game features conflict and opposition with alien entities alongside humans, it is a Gundam title after all. We are paying immense attention to highlighting the human drama that lies at the core of the Gundam series. Please keep an eye on how we express that.
Director Serizawa: To state the game's concept, it's an experience of becoming an ace Gundam pilot. In a battle for survival against the alien entities known as the Apocalypse, how the protagonist becomes an ace pilot and what feats they perform is a very important aspect.
When presenting the game, unit customization was mentioned. How wide a selection of part designs are available? Also, is the unit's name fixed as Helix?
Producer Tomiyama: Regarding the exact number of base part designs prepared for this game, please look forward to the full release. As for naming the unit, GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT focuses on the protagonist serving as the pilot of Helix, so changing the name isn't possible. However, you can customize your Mobile Suit by combining a wide variety of parts, so we hope you enjoy creating your own unique Helix and playing in your own style.
In previous Gundam games, mission lengths varied, but the missions featured in playable demos so far have generally been short. Will longer and more complex missions appear later?
Director Serizawa: The missions shown in this demo were early-game missions. They were set at a difficulty meant to help players get accustomed to early areas, basic actions, boss fights, and customization. As you move into the mid-to-late game, the variety of missions will expand, playtime for each will vary, and mission structures will be more complex.
You emphasized hyper-realism. What was your main focus when bringing that to life at a Gundam scale?
Director Serizawa: There are two main reasons we adopted hyper-realistic graphics in this game. One was to emphasize the threat of the Apocalypse. The second was our desire to capture the metallic realistic texture of Mobile Suits more authentically and broadly. As we built that world, we also had to adopt a hyper-realistic style for the characters to naturally portray the human-to-human drama.
As we fleshed this out, we pondered how to hyper-realistically capture the difference in scale between humans and Gundams, as well as the briefing sequence when launching from the hangar. We focused on conveying various aspects realistically—how to deliver the feeling of piloting a Mobile Suit with such realistic graphics, and how to realistically portray the threat felt when those who launch face the Apocalypse.
Looking at the recently released trailer, it seems like other enemies might appear through Apocalypse corruption or assimilation. Could you expand on this part?
Producer Tomiyama: As you noted, a black Mobile Suit appears at the end of the recent trailer. While I can't share details since it's a vital part of the story, please look forward to it.
Finally, do you have a message for Korean fans waiting for the release of GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT?
Producer Tomiyama: GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT is a title that takes on new challenges in many ways. We are currently working hard toward completion, and beyond the game itself, we have plenty of news to share, including Gunpla model kits. We hope Gundam fans stay tuned. Making the game enjoyable for those unfamiliar with Gundam is also a primary goal of GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT. Even if you don't know much about Gundam, we hope you'll check out our videos and articles and get excited for the game.
Director Serizawa: GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT is a hyper-realistic Mobile Suit action game, and we hope it serves as an entry point for those new to Gundam. We are well aware that there are many passionate Gundam fans in Korea. We will work hard to deliver a title that repays that love. Please look forward to it.
