The Gundam SEED franchise is in a sustained merchandising and content expansion phase following the record-breaking 2024 film SEED FREEDOM, with a theatrical prequel, Freedom Zero, confirmed for release and multiple Gunpla and figure lines launching through mid-2026.
Bandai Namco Filmworks confirmed in May 2026 that Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero, a prequel to the 2024 film, will screen in theaters. The project was originally planned as an OVA two decades ago, with a completed script and nearly half-finished storyboards. Director Mitsuo Fukuda, producer Hisakazu Naka, and voice actor Sōichirō Hoshi first revealed the project in November 2024, when a teaser played during special edition screenings of the main film. The 2024 Freedom film opened at number one in Japan and became the highest-earning Gundam film in the country.
Merchandise tied to the franchise has been released steadily through mid-2026. Bandai released the METAL BUILD Strike Freedom Gundam Revival Version on June 27, a repackaged 2015 figure with new display supports supervised by mechanical animation director Satoshi Shigeta. Premium Bandai opened orders on June 11 for the MG 1/100 Blaze Zaku Phantom (Heine Westenfluss Custom) from Gundam SEED Destiny, shipping in September 2026. Gundam Base received two special color Gunpla kits on June 26: the HG 1/144 Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam in a ReCirculation Color variant and the HG 1/144 Xi Gundam in a clear color package tied to the Hathaway's Flash film.
MegaHouse opened pre-orders on June 4 for a Lucrea Light Athrun Zala Pilot Suit Ver. figure from SEED FREEDOM, designed to pair with a previously announced Kira Yamato figure. Bandai released the second wave of its Nokkarun desu capsule figure series on June 25, featuring Kira, Lacus, Athrun, and Cagalli from SEED FREEDOM. Bandai Spirits also announced a collaboration between Apex Legends and three Real Grade Gunpla kits-Freedom Gundam, Wing Gundam Zero EW, and Gundam Epion-each with character-inspired color schemes, sold exclusively at Gundam Base stores and GUNDAM SIDE-F starting July 25.
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Bandai Spirits will release the HGCE 1/144 scale Gouf Ignited (Heine Westenfluss Custom) on July 11, 2026. The kit, from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, reproduces the character's orange personal color with molded plastic. It includes a slayer whip in two forms, a beam sword, a shield, and a right open hand. The SEED Action System allows dynamic posing. The kit costs 2,860 yen including tax.
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced on July 6 that two mobile suits from the film "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM" will appear as giant nebuta floats at the 2026 Aomori Nebuta Festival. The Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam and the Infinite Justice Gundam Type II, crafted by nebuta master Hiroo Fukushi, will serve as the front nebuta leading a parade group. The exhibition is the first installment of the Gundam Festival Project, an initiative that places Gundam IP into locally cherished festivals as a form of regional revitalization. A newly drawn event key visual shows characters Kira Yamato, Lacus Clyne, Athrun Zala, and Cagalli Yula Athha dressed in haneto dancer costumes. The parade will also distribute collaboration fans featuring that visual. The festival runs from August 2 to August 7, with a pre-festival display on August 1. A pop-up shop opens July 18 at the To-O Nippo Shinmachi Building, selling limited goods and tie-up products with local Aomori items like Stamina Gen Tare sauce, Gachirin apple juice, and Nanbu Senbei crackers. Additional collaborations include chocolate banana flavored English Toast bread and Polo Chocolat cake in limited packaging.
Bandai Spirits announced a collaboration between the online shooter Apex Legends and three Real Grade Gunpla kits, which will be sold exclusively at Gundam Base stores and GUNDAM SIDE-F starting July 25. The lineup includes the RG 1/144 Freedom Gundam -Apex Legends Crypto Ver.-, priced at 4,400 yen; the RG 1/144 Wing Gundam Zero EW -Apex Legends Valkyrie Ver.-, also 4,400 yen; and the RG 1/144 Gundam Epion -Apex Legends Alter Ver.-, priced at 5,500 yen. Each kit features a color scheme inspired by an Apex Legends character: the Freedom Gundam uses white, yellow-green, and black for Crypto; the Wing Gundam Zero uses black and orange for Valkyrie; and the Gundam Epion uses light blue and black for Alter. All three kits include original Apex Legends marking stickers and come in full-color packaging. The collaboration was announced on July 1 and the kits will be available at physical Gundam Base locations and GUNDAM SIDE-F.
Bandai will release the second wave of its capsule deformed figure series Nokkarun desu ♪ on June 25, 2026, featuring characters from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM. The lineup includes four types: Kira Yamato, Lacus Clyne, Athrun Zala, and Cagalli Yula Athha. Each figure stands approximately 4 cm tall and comes with a base that has a Gundam head design on the back. The figures are priced at 500 yen each (tax included) and will be sold on Gashapon Online from June 25 at 11:00 AM to July 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Delivery is expected around late November 2026. The series may also appear in capsule vending machines nationwide before delivery. Orders close when the planned quantity is reached.
Bandai Spirits will release two special color Gunpla kits at Gundam Base on June 26, 2026: the HG 1/144 Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam in a ReCirculation Color variant and the HG 1/144 Xi Gundam in a clear color theater release commemorative package. The Mighty Strike Freedom kit uses the SEED Action System and costs 3,300 yen. The Xi Gundam kit, priced at 6,930 yen, comes in a special package featuring the key visual from Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash - The Witch of Kirke.
Bandai will release the METAL BUILD Strike Freedom Gundam <Revival Version> on June 27, 2026, for 38,500 yen. The figure is a repackaged version of the 2015 release with added auxiliary supports, supervised by mechanical animation director Satoshi Shigeta. The eight DRAGOONs are detachable and can be displayed radially on dedicated base parts.
Premium Bandai opens orders June 11 for the MG 1/100 Blaze Zaku Phantom (Heine Westenfluss Custom) from Gundam SEED Destiny. The kit reproduces the orange color scheme in molded colors, includes the Blaze Wizard backpack with opening hatches and deploying missile pods, and comes with water-slide decals for Heine's personal mark and the Hawkins team mark. Shipping is set for September 2026 at 5,390 yen.
MegaHouse began accepting pre-orders on June 4 for the Lucrea Light Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM Athrun Zala Pilot Suit Ver. figure. The 210mm tall figure shows Athrun in his pilot suit holding a helmet, designed to display alongside the previously announced Kira Yamato Pilot Suit Ver. figure. It costs 8,800 yen and ships in January 2027.
Bandai Namco Filmworks board director and producer Naohiro Ogata announced on Friday that Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero will screen in theaters. The announcement came during the Gundam Conference Spring 2026 livestream. Freedom Zero is a prequel to the 2024 film Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom. Director Mitsuo Fukuda, producer Hisakazu Naka, and voice actor Sōichirō Hoshi first revealed the project at a stage greeting in November 2024, when a teaser video played during special edition screenings of the main film. Fukuda stated at that time that the script was completed 20 years ago, that storyboards were nearly half finished, and that dialogue recording was already done. The prequel was originally planned as an original video anime two decades ago. The new theatrical path was not yet decided when the project was first teased. A fresh teaser trailer accompanied the Friday announcement. The 2024 Freedom film opened at number one in Japan, sold over 634,000 tickets in its first three days, and became the highest-earning Gundam film in the country.