Upcoming Post-Apocalyptic Gundam Anime Set for 2027 Release
The next chapter in the expansive Gundam universe is on the horizon. At San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO, a new anime, is slated for release in 2027. This series introduces a fresh continuity known as After Apocalypse, which connects to the recently announced video game, Gundam Rogue Orbit.
This new universe is crafted by renowned sci-fi director and writer Kenji Kamiyama, celebrated for his work on Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Kamiyama has also directed titles like Eden of the East, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, and the short The Ninth Jedi from Star Wars: Visions. Novelist Toh EnJoe, known for works like Self-Reference Engine and Harlequin Butterfly, has also played a role in building the RG universe. Production for Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO will be handled by Sola Animation.
The anime and game are intertwined, sharing a narrative that spans generations within a single world, each offering a unique perspective on this shared universe. The anime is set chronologically first, taking place 100 years before the events of Gundam Rogue Orbit.
“When I was approached with the idea of creating ‘a Gundam set in an entirely new timeline, one that is neither the Universal Century nor the Common Era,’ I found myself wrestling with all sorts of questions,” Kamiyama shared. “What would replace the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon? What would become of the Newtype concept? What about Minovsky particles?”
“I stepped back and reminded myself: I had been given the chance to create my own Gundam from the ground up for a series I’ve loved for years. What could be more exciting than that? Once I found my way back to that excitement, a fresh and unexpected Gundam began to take shape. That Gundam is Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO,” he added.
For those new to Gundam, the series features multiple alternate timelines, with the Universal Century (UC) timeline from 1979’s Mobile Suit Gundam being the most prominent. Other timelines, like Iron-Blooded Orphans’ Post Disaster universe and The Witch from Mercury’s Ad Stella continuity, can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the series.
The anime will focus on Ray Azumi (voiced by Takeo Otsuka), the pilot of Gundam Zero, who is a war orphan with parents lost during an apocalyptic event. The setup for the After Apocalypse continuity is as follows:
The three revelations delivered by an Autonomous Interstellar Object from another galaxy ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity, enabling humanity to expand throughout the solar system.
Gravity Control. FTL Communication. Cognitive Materialization. Yet, less than a decade after these discoveries, the Object that brought these revelations spiraled out of control, giving rise to an aggressive, self-replicating ecosystem.
Humanity came to view this unknown ecosystem as the Apocalypse.
For three months, humanity battled the Apocalypse to a standstill in orbit above Earth. Forced to abandon the planet, humanity marked that year as A.A. 1—the first year After Apocalypse.
By A.A. 45, children born on the Moon and in space colonies have never known life without the Apocalypse.
And on the lunar surface, a boy named Ray Azumi awakens—
As for the upcoming game Rogue Orbit, it was announced during Summer Game Fest in June. Its Steam page describes it as “a high-mobility action game,” and the gameplay snippets in the trailer showcase fast-paced mecha battles reminiscent of FromSoftware’s Armored Core series. Composer Mick Gordon, known for his work on Doom (2016), is crafting the music for Rogue Orbit, highlighted by an electrifying guitar riff that plays as a Mobile Suit slices a massive monster in half. Like the anime, the game is also set for a 2027 release. While new Gundam projects are a constant in the franchise, both this anime and the game appear to be charting a new course.
