At Summer Game Fest 2026 last June, Bandai Namco announced Gundam Rogue Orbit, a new action based on Mobile Suit Gundam with an aesthetic choice that’s more realistic, grounded and starkly different to established universes that features these specific giant robots with giant robots-sized weapons.
It’s a weird reveal, moreso if you’re familiar with Gundam as a series of anime, games and plastic model kits. These don’t pass off as Gundams in the first glance.
But as revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Gundam Rogue Orbit was actually the first glimpse of the new Gundam Initiative RG Project, set in a new timeline of the Gundam saga. This setting is also will be explored in the newly announced Mobile Suit Gundam anime series as well.
The new anime, Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO (“XARX-ZERO” is pronounced “Alex Zero”), won’t be directly related to Gundam Rogue Orbit, but it is set in the same world.
Director Kenji Kamiyama and author Toh Enjoe are responsible in establishing this new setting.
To make this real, grounded setting even more canonical to the larger Gundam franchise, the hero Gundam featured in Gundam Rogue Orbit, Gundam Helix, is getting turned into a High Grade 1/144 scale Gunpla model kit, the HG 1/144 GUNDAM HELIX.
Unlike what we’ve seen so far from the reveal trailer, the Gunpla version of Gundam Helix does feature additional colours rather than purely cladded in white armour. Gundam Helix has red soles, blue trimmings along the chest shoulders and bits at the front of its legs and dark army green accents. The kit comes with several weapons and a backpack, like most in-universe Gundam and Gunpla kit usually has.
The existence of a Gundam Helix Gunpla means it will also likely feature in the next Gundam Breaker game.
The Comic-Con panel also revealed new information about Gundam Rogue Orbit’s previously mysterious pilot/protagonist. His name is RE-X (not sure if there’s a specific pronunciation for this name yet) and he pilots the Gundam Helix.
Previously named character with a pink hair Sophia (not to be confused with Tasha, the partially pink haired character in Bandai Namco’s other upcoming title Ace Combat 8), is Gundam Rogue Orbit’s heroine who monitor’s RE-X’s “situation.”
Gundam Helix is “designed with a strong focus on realism” and “crafted to feel like a weapon that could exist in the real world.”
With Bandai Namco having producing 1/1 scale Gundam models before, a 1/1 scale Gundam Helix might not be on the cards, with it appearing like a real weapon and all. Gundam Helix will appear on the cards of the Gundam Card Game, however.
Gundam Rogue Orbit will be out on PS5, PC (Steam) and Xbox Series X|S in 2027.