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Hatemonger wrote:

If I were GW, I would be having a serious strategic planning meeting right now.

I doubt it since GW and Bandai have a working relationship already.

 parakuribo wrote:

On another note, I wonder if the models might have cards for other pilots or builders, considering certain suits have changed hands?

Based on the preview rules it looks like there's different sculpts to represent different loadouts and the pilot is listed on each suit, I assume as the primary limiting factor. I suspect it will mostly be linked to the most iconic pilot for each suit. I doubt they'll do many pilot swaps if any at all.

Hatemonger wrote:

HidaO-Win wrote:
Gundam Assemble is out in October
Bandai has announced a tabletop games division.

The old pillars of heaven in Nottingham may have been given a bit of a shake.

I want to point out that - as you imply - this bit of news is perhaps more significant than anything specific about the game. It would be like Disney/LFL/Marvel "just deciding" to make a game company - if Disney was also one of the world's top manufacturers of plastic models.

If I were GW, I would be having a serious strategic planning meeting right now.

- H8

why? what does GW have to be scared of here?

 hotsauceman1 wrote:

Hatemonger wrote:

HidaO-Win wrote:
Gundam Assemble is out in October
Bandai has announced a tabletop games division.

The old pillars of heaven in Nottingham may have been given a bit of a shake.

I want to point out that - as you imply - this bit of news is perhaps more significant than anything specific about the game. It would be like Disney/LFL/Marvel "just deciding" to make a game company - if Disney was also one of the world's top manufacturers of plastic models.

If I were GW, I would be having a serious strategic planning meeting right now.

- H8

why? what does GW have to be scared of here?

Hatemonger seems to think a big name in one sector entering another sector means they'll somehow unseat the current high seat in said sector. Ask Lorcana and One Piece how well that worked vs Magic.

Yeah, I think it's way too early to predict how this'll impact the market.

I think it also depends on Bandai's intention for the long run. Will this be like X-wing and have a few golden years and then fold or will this be a game for the long term?

Bandai does have much better plastic molding compared to GW (if anyone has ever worked on a Real Grade or Master Grade kit you've seen it), and they have an established popular IP with plenty of mech designs to make game content from. The right pieces are in place for success, but plenty of other games started out strong too.

GW might be concerned because they at least as much facility with injection molding and have access to some hefty IPs. Like Pokemon.

https://x.com/gundam_news105/status/2029257411656335656

Bandai Spirits is launching “BANDAI TABLETOP GAMES,” a tabletop game brand that combines “building” and “playing,” beginning in March 2026.

BANDAI TABLETOP GAMES will propose a new form of hobby entertainment built on the manufacturing expertise Bandai has cultivated through its plastic model (Gunpla) business.

As its first lineup, the brand will release:
• “GUNDAM ASSEMBLE” – a miniature board game (October 2026)
• “Plakoro” – a Pokémon dice battle game based on luck and strategy (July 2026)

⸻

GUNDAM ASSEMBLE is a miniature tabletop battle game where players use Mobile Suits from the Gundam series as playing pieces.

Players assemble and paint approximately 5 cm miniatures, offering the same enjoyment as building plastic models. The game also features strategic squad-based combat, utilizing terrain within the game board.

Key features include:
• Story elements tied to Gundam series works
• High-quality miniature sculpting
• Strategic battlefield gameplay

To enter the global market, five products will launch simultaneously worldwide in October 2026. Afterward, new products will be released monthly, with more than 30 items planned to be released globally within the first year.

⸻

Plakoro is a Pokémon battle game originally released by Bandai in 1997.

To celebrate Pokémon’s 30th anniversary in 2026, the game will return with updated strategic elements through collaboration with:
• Creatures Inc. (developers of the Pokémon Trading Card Game)
• The Pokémon Company

The game features customizable dice called “Enekoro” that represent Pokémon attacks. Players assemble the dice themselves to determine the possible outcomes, adding a layer of customization that directly affects battle results.

This creates a dice-based Pokémon battle game that blends luck and strategy, designed to be enjoyable for both children and adults.

 Platuan4th wrote:

Hatemonger wrote:

If I were GW, I would be having a serious strategic planning meeting right now.

I doubt it since GW and Bandai have a working relationship already.

GW and Fantasy Flight Games had a working relationship too, until GW decided that was inconvenient for them.

callidusx3 wrote:

 Platuan4th wrote:

Hatemonger wrote:

If I were GW, I would be having a serious strategic planning meeting right now.

I doubt it since GW and Bandai have a working relationship already.

GW and Fantasy Flight Games had a working relationship too, until GW decided that was inconvenient for them.

What I heard was GW was cool with FFG until Asmodee acquired them, they didn't view FFG as a competitor but they did view Asmodee as one.

The Gundam game might even be beneficial to Warhammer in the long run. It could bring a lot of new people into the hobby who then end up adopting Warhammer. I thank the Hearthstone devs all the time for teaching so many people how to play Magic!

Platuan4th wrote:Hatemonger seems to think a big name in one sector entering another sector means they'll somehow unseat the current high seat in said sector. Ask Lorcana and One Piece how well that worked vs Magic.

My statement wasn't intended to be one of those "GW is doomed now!" click-bait type exclamations, even if it it looked that way.

ScarletRose wrote:Yeah, I think it's way too early to predict how this'll impact the market.

I think it also depends on Bandai's intention for the long run. Will this be like X-wing and have a few golden years and then fold or will this be a game for the long term?

Bandai does have much better plastic molding compared to GW (if anyone has ever worked on a Real Grade or Master Grade kit you've seen it), and they have an established popular IP with plenty of mech designs to make game content from. The right pieces are in place for success, but plenty of other games started out strong too.

I'm not making any predictions, but I think the X-Wing comparison is a good one: a strong IP couple with mass-market distribution which did (briefly) unseat GW as the most popular miniatures game.

HidaO-Win wrote:GW might be concerned because they at least as much facility with injection molding and have access to some hefty IPs. Like Pokemon.

https://x.com/gundam_news105/status/2029257411656335656

Bandai Spirits is launching “BANDAI TABLETOP GAMES,” a tabletop game brand that combines “building” and “playing,” beginning in March 2026.

BANDAI TABLETOP GAMES will propose a new form of hobby entertainment built on the manufacturing expertise Bandai has cultivated through its plastic model (Gunpla) business.

That's it, right there: "tabletop games that combine building and playing" is literally GW's business model. The biggest hurdle for most competitors has been the scale of manufacturing and distribution. That is something Bandai can already do well, which puts them in a different position than most previous up-and-coming rivals to GW's products.

How well does Bandai know how to make and sell games? How well does GW know how to sell the model-making hobby? Who makes the better games? Who makes the better models?

I'm sure we all have opinions on those, but I don't think we have any concrete answers, if such a thing is even possible.

To my view, I see the companies starting from different positions of relative strengths, but converging toward the same place in a larger market sense. I can't begin to predict what the results will be. Maybe Bandai will decide that the niche-within-a-niche of gamer-modellers is too small to be worth the effort of a company their size (as Hasbro seems to have done). Maybe Bandai will discover the magical balance and do so well that they put GW out of business - or just acquire the Warhammer brand for themselves. Maybe the competition will make both product lines better, and broaden the hobby market such that both companies do well. Maybe they'll converge to both become crabs, I dunno.

- H8

Watched their full PR batrep game, and immediately preordered all of it. I always divorce IP from mechanics at times like this, as a great playing game is great period (and the fun IP is a bonus).

In this case I am thoroughly impressed, and the designer side of me sees a lot of fun levers to pull when they make new, mechanically interesting units to play with/against.

Its obviously vibes based, but it feels like this could be poised to be a big deal.

Meanwhile Atomic Mass is sweating most while collecting their newest PR "L".

Looks like I'll need to buy both the standard and deluxe starter sets, as they have different figures/themes.

Best start saving up for October now.

Interesting that all the starters have different miniatures.

To a look at their How to Play video. Seems pretty straightforward. Ought to be fun.

Yet I'm still thinking about using 1:144 models...

 schoon wrote:
Yet I'm still thinking about using 1:144 models...

Heh! My son and I blu-tacked some 1:144 Gunplas onto cardboard coasters and played a few games of Gamma Wolves with 'em. Didn't really feel like Gundam, but it was still a good time!

 schoon wrote:
Interesting that all the starters have different miniatures.

To a look at their How to Play video. Seems pretty straightforward. Ought to be fun.

Yet I'm still thinking about using 1:144 models...

I am sure Bandai would consider that a win in some way. We already do Gundam table top, so this will be a popular side project. 1:144 scale is good for a table top game! But harder to get some of the bigger ones on the table at times.

Loopstah wrote:
Looks like I'll need to buy both the standard and deluxe starter sets, as they have different figures/themes.

Best start saving up for October now.

Where would you buy this in the UK?

Wayland Games and Firestorm Games both stock the related Gundam Card Game, as well as Gundam model kits, so they would be a good bet to keep an eye on. Bear in mind that the first products from this line won't be released until October.

They're up at BigBadToyStore for pre-order.

Loopstah wrote:
Looks like I'll need to buy both the standard and deluxe starter sets, as they have different figures/themes.

Best start saving up for October now.

The big deal is they have different map sizes for different sized games. Personally I'm more interested in the Seed deluxe starter so I'll probably pass on the OYW version.

 schoon wrote:

Yet I'm still thinking about using 1:144 models...

Me too. I've already got small mech battles covered between Mech Attack and Alpha Strike. I won't be buying into this.

I'd love to see games with 1/144 Gundam though. Despite not being a Gundam fan, I've built a few Gunpla. They're amazing kits and I'd love to get them on the table properly. Could easily see it done also as it's ready to go (hundreds of Gundam kits already out there...) and actually quite affordable compared to GW.

Unfortunately, I doubt we'll ever see such a thing, but I do wonder if we'll see folks scale up this game to use 1/144 Gunpla. Will be watching.

 Eilif wrote:

 schoon wrote:

Yet I'm still thinking about using 1:144 models...

Me too. I've already got small mech battles covered between Mech Attack and Alpha Strike. I won't be buying into this.

I'd love to see games with 1/144 Gundam though. Despite not being a Gundam fan, I've built a few Gunpla. They're amazing kits and I'd love to get them on the table properly. Could easily see it done also as it's ready to go (hundreds of Gundam kits already out there...) and actually quite affordable compared to GW.

Unfortunately, I doubt we'll ever see such a thing, but I do wonder if we'll see folks scale up this game to use 1/144 Gunpla. Will be watching.

There are multiple fan made (and honestly quite good) rulesets to use 1/144 Gunpla in.

 NH Gunsmith wrote:

 Eilif wrote:

 schoon wrote:

Yet I'm still thinking about using 1:144 models...

Me too. I've already got small mech battles covered between Mech Attack and Alpha Strike. I won't be buying into this.

I'd love to see games with 1/144 Gundam though. Despite not being a Gundam fan, I've built a few Gunpla. They're amazing kits and I'd love to get them on the table properly. Could easily see it done also as it's ready to go (hundreds of Gundam kits already out there...) and actually quite affordable compared to GW.

Unfortunately, I doubt we'll ever see such a thing, but I do wonder if we'll see folks scale up this game to use 1/144 Gunpla. Will be watching.

There are multiple fan made (and honestly quite good) rulesets to use 1/144 Gunpla in.

A lot of work went into them, just finding players who want same as players.

 NH Gunsmith wrote:
There are multiple fan made (and honestly quite good) rulesets to use 1/144 Gunpla in.

Care to share a few suggestions?

Regarding playing this game with 1/144 scale gunpla, it looks like this game uses a hex-based game board, and some of the Action Base display stands that Bandai makes are also hexagonal, so in theory you'd just need to made your own scaled-up board.

 schoon wrote:

 NH Gunsmith wrote:
There are multiple fan made (and honestly quite good) rulesets to use 1/144 Gunpla in.

Care to share a few suggestions?

I found Mobile Suit Skirmish to be the best one. Looks like the ProBoards forum has been mostly abandoned, but I can still get in and access the rules and unit cards. Feel free to PM me and I can send them over to you.

Back on topic though, I am quite excited for this game, even though I already play Battletech Classic and Alpha Strike. The prices they have shown have been very reasonable for what you get.

You said Battletech, which also has a good price point. The main differences are that the deluxe starters may scratch the Aerotech itch, while the Mechs will have nore variety in units. It doesn't hurt for Bandai since the latter has slightly less of a foothold in Japan.

The only way I can see this fail elsewhere is if a GW shareholder against anime might take that as a threat somehow(i.e. make GW redrop Space Hulk as B&N exclusive, reintroduce BFG, modify Adeptus Titanicus to also include Xenos units, etc.)

I assume they're marketing this in Japan? If so the English language marketing may be an afterthought.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
I assume they're marketing this in Japan? If so the English language marketing may be an afterthought.

My japanese friend once told me that no matter what, Japan always thinks "Japan first" which is why you always see things like gundams and model kits from there lack regional packaging, they just dont care to much.

Anime has always been like that. My friend worked for a company that did "funny" translations of anime Ala Whats Up Tiger Lilly and the owners just didn't care.

My point being if they'll make 90% of their money in Asia nothing GW does can hurt it

There are a lot of Japanese companies that do English and other language well. And a lot that do it really badly.
Bandai is somewhere in the middle, a lot of Gundam and other plastic kits are allready made universal so you can build in any language.
And they still support Gundam products that are more popular in the west than Japan.
But I don’t think GW would really pivot to try and compete directly. There wouldn’t be much point as I don’t think this directly competes ether.