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Bandai Namco’s new mobile suit action game Gundam Rogue Orbit Ever since its release, many longtime Gundam fans have been skeptical. PC Gamer news writer Lincoln Carpenter was one of them. But this week, photos of a model kit have changed their minds, and the reason is a very strange, very dangerous, and very cool weapon: Chainsaw Macuahuitl
Image credit: Bandai
The real reason for the doubt: Gundam and monsters?
Lincoln himself admits that he’s not one to turn up his nose at a mecha action game. Yet, ever since Rogue Orbit was announced in June, he’s been eyeing it with suspicion. The issue is the game’s enemy force: giant monsters. For him, Gundam isn’t about battling aliens or monsters. In his mind, Gundam is the story of traumatized children who, through becoming combat pilots, become so mentally powerful that their minds are on the verge of exploding. In other words, he calls himself a “traditional” Gundam fan, and a world of monsters doesn’t fit with this traditional approach.
Read More: Gundam Rogue Orbit: The whip-sword won hearts, but the customization screen was missed.
Then came the model kit.
This week, Bandai teased its new announcements for the 2026 All Japan Model & Hobby Show in Japan.HG 1/144 Bau Bahlam A model kit named “Gundam” is a toy version of a mobile suit seen in Rogue Orbit. This announcement was especially touching for Lincoln, as he himself has become a Gundam model kit enthusiast. He jokes that he’s now at the point of redrawing the kit’s mold lines by hand, meaning the situation is really serious.
The mobile suit was briefly seen in the game’s release date trailer in September. But it wasn’t until the kit images arrived that Lincoln was able to fully appreciate its design, and he was particularly impressed by three aspects.
Three qualities of Bau Bahlam
Image credit: Bandai
First feature: one-eyed design. Gundam enthusiasts consider the most powerful characters to be those who fly “mono-eye,” or one-eyed robots. Lincoln finds the Bau Bahlam reminiscent of the old Gouf, the classic close-combat suit flown by the legendary Ramba Ral. He considers the Bau Bahlam to be its spiritual successor.
Second feature: Chainsaw Macuahuitl. The macuahuitl is an ancient sword-like weapon from Mesoamerica, with sharp pieces of obsidian embedded into the edges of its wooden body. Bau Bahlam makes it even more dangerous. This massive, robot-sized weapon has had one side removed and replaced with a chainsaw. Furthermore, the kit even includes a simulated pull cord so you can pose it as if the robot is starting its motor.
Third feature: thorny knuckle plates. As if to make the giant robot’s punch less painful on its own, knuckle plates with spikes have been added.
Will its effect be visible in the game?
Lincoln speculates that, given the mecha customization seen in the release date trailer, players will likely be able to add different parts to their robots. He hopes that includes the chainsaw macuahuitl, and in his words, it would be cruel not to offer it.
The doubt hasn’t completely gone away yet
It’s important to clarify something here. Lincoln didn’t say he’s now drawn to the monster theme. He says he reserves the right to complain if the game deviates from Gundam’s traditional approach after launch. It’s just that seeing such powerful mecha designs has softened his stance. His reasoning is simple: a game that dares to give its robots a Mesoamerican sword with a chainsaw probably has its heart in the right place.
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Release date and kit details
Now to the point. Gundam Rogue Orbit will launch on Steam on March 4, 2027. The HG 1/144 Bau Bahlam kit, meanwhile, doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet, but it’s expected to hit the market sometime in 2027.
from our point of view
To be honest, this news raises an interesting point. Sometimes, our opinion of a game isn’t changed by a trailer or announcement, but by something as small as a kit’s design. Longtime Gundam fans are right to be concerned about Rogue Orbit, as the series is known for its gritty, anti-war stories. But if the game is showing so much creativity in its weapons and designs, it’s worth giving it a shot. It remains to be seen if it lives up to expectations in terms of both action and customization when it releases in March 2027.
