Gundam Assemble Release Schedule - Launch Timeline and Upcoming Products

Bandai officially launched Gundam Assemble in October 2026 as a competitive tabletop miniatures game, and the Gundam Assemble release schedule follows an aggressive cadence more typical of trading card games than traditional model lines. The company committed to monthly follow-ups after the initial launch wave, with more than 30 total items planned worldwide within the first year.

The release strategy differs sharply from Bandai’s established Gunpla business. Rather than spacing out premium kits across quarters, Gundam Assemble drops multiple products simultaneously each month, mixing starter sets, expansion packs, deluxe scenario boxes, and standalone scenario content. This approach keeps competitive players engaged with fresh tactical options while giving narrative-focused hobbyists new story battles to recreate on a predictable schedule.

October 2026 Launch Wave

Bandai showcased Starter Set 01 and Deluxe Set 01 together at Gen Con 2026, and five items released simultaneously that October. The launch lineup provided immediate entry points at multiple price tiers while establishing the product categories that would define the line going forward.

Starter Set 01 (ST01) - $35

The format’s complete beginner box shipped with six miniatures spanning multiple Gundam series: RX-78-2 Gundam, Char’s Zaku II, Wing Gundam Zero EW, Gundam Mepphyon, Gundam Vidar, and Barbatos Lupus Rex. The set includes six unit cards, 18 tactics cards, 10-sided dice, a game map, tokens, cardboard terrain, a handbook, and quick reference sheets. Two teaching scenarios walk new players through the rules before they build custom squads.

Expansion Pack 01 (EX01) - $40

Released around October 31, 2026, this pack pulls three mobile suits from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: Unicorn Gundam, Delta Plus, and a third unit listed in early retailer catalogs as “Torohachi.” The box includes three miniatures, three unit cards, nine tactics cards, and tokens. It contains no board, dice, or terrain and requires a starter set to play.

Expansion Pack 02 (EX02) - $40

This pack launched in the same October to November 2026 window, featuring suits from Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch from Mercury: Gundam Aerial, Gundam Pharact, and Gundam Darilbalde. The pack introduces new token-based strategic options not present in Starter Set 01, expanding the mechanical toolkit beyond the base game. The three miniatures match the same 5 cm scale and unpainted assembly requirement as the rest of the line.

Deluxe Set 01 (DX01) - $100

Originally slated for October 2026 but pushed to November 2026 by several retailers, Deluxe Set 01 scales the game up to five-on-five battles. The set contains 13 miniatures total, including the Witch from Mercury suits (Aerial, Darilbalde, Pharact) in a scenario themed on the Battle of A Baoa Qu from the Universal Century timeline. The box ships with two scenario objective cards, two game maps, unit cards, tactics cards, tokens, terrain, dice, a handbook, and reference sheets. The headline scenario centers on battleship-class units squaring off.

Early 2027 Release Window

Reporting from mid-2026 detailed six products landing across January, February, and March 2027. This wave introduces the format’s first dedicated scenario pack and continues the expansion pack structure established at launch.

Four Expansion Packs - $40 Each

Bandai confirmed four more $40 expansion packs releasing in the early 2027 window. These follow the same three-miniature, nine-tactics-card structure as EX01 and EX02, adding units from additional Gundam series while introducing new mechanics. Each pack plugs directly into existing collections rather than functioning as standalone products.

Deluxe Set 03 (DX03) - $170

This premium release represents a significant price increase over Deluxe Set 01’s $100 tier. The set likely scales content and miniature count to justify the higher cost, though specific contents have not been detailed in coverage as of November 2026.

Scenario Pack 01 - $55

The format’s first standalone scenario pack marks an unusual move for a plastic model company. Rather than bundling scenario content exclusively inside miniature boxes, Bandai treats scenario design as its own product category sold separately from any new suits. This approach suggests the storytelling layer carries independent value regardless of which units a player currently owns.

Release Cadence and Product Strategy

The Gundam Assemble release schedule operates on a monthly cadence rather than the quarterly or seasonal releases typical of traditional miniature war games. Bandai structured the line to mirror trading card game distribution, keeping competitive players engaged with regular mechanical expansions while giving scenario-focused hobbyists new narrative content each wave.

Release Type	Price Point	Typical Contents	Release Frequency
Starter Set	$35	6 miniatures, full game components	Launch product
Expansion Pack	$40	3 miniatures, 9 tactics cards, tokens	Monthly waves
Deluxe Set	$100-$170	10+ miniatures, multiple scenarios, maps	Major releases
Scenario Pack	$55	Scenario cards, no miniatures	Periodic standalone

The aggressive first-year rollout commits Bandai to over 30 products worldwide before the game’s first anniversary. This scale demonstrates confidence in the format’s viability and positions Gundam Assemble as a continuously evolving competitive system rather than a limited collector’s line.

Early Crossover Products (2025)

Gundam Assemble miniatures actually debuted more than a year before the standalone game launched. The very first Assemble minis shipped in 2025 inside card game starter decks as pack-in bonuses, letting players build and paint skirmish-scale suits well before the tabletop game had a confirmed release window.

ST01 Heroic Beginnings (Card Game Starter)

This 2025 card game product bundled the first three Gundam Assemble miniatures ever released: TP S-01 Gundam, TP S-02 Guncannon, and TP S-03 Guntank. The set included a 50-card deck, resource cards, token cards, and damage counters. Players could snap the minis together and place them on token cards during card game matches.

ST02A Wings of Advance (Card Game Starter)

This green and blue Heero Yuy and Zechs Merquise deck shipped with three more Assemble miniatures on sprue runners: Tallgeese, a Leo with rifle, and a second Leo with beam cannon. Hobbyist rankings rated these early crossover sets for their strategic token generation, treating the miniatures as functional game pieces rather than throwaway bonuses.

The card game crossover continued into the standalone era with products like Premium Card Collection PC01A themed around Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans, sold through the card game’s storefront rather than miniatures retail channels. This dual-funnel approach drives both card collectors and tabletop players into the same connected product ecosystem.

Product Types and What Each Includes

Understanding which components ship in each product type helps players plan purchases around the Gundam Assemble release schedule without buying redundant components or missing essential pieces.

Starter Set 01 remains the only product containing a complete game in one box. It includes the board, dice, terrain, and teaching scenarios alongside six miniatures. Players new to tabletop war games should start here rather than jumping directly to expansion packs.

Expansion Packs contain only miniatures, unit cards, tactics cards, and tokens. They require a starter set to provide the board, dice, terrain, and core rules. The $40 price point positions these as monthly tactical updates for existing players rather than standalone entry products.

Deluxe Sets scale up to five-on-five battles with 10 or more miniatures, multiple scenario cards, additional maps, and their own dice and terrain. These function as semi-standalone products for players who have outgrown the starter’s three-on-three format but still want guided scenario play rather than purely competitive squad building.

Scenario Packs sell storytelling content separately from miniatures. Players use suits they already own to recreate specific anime battles through new objective cards and victory conditions. This product type has no precedent in Bandai’s Gunpla line and signals a commitment to narrative play as a distinct pillar of the format.

Organized Play and Tournament Support

Bandai launched an official event management platform called Bandai Tabletop Games alongside the brand itself, centralizing tournament registration and match tracking. Learn-to-play preview events rolled out at retail stores nationwide starting September 14, 2026, weeks ahead of the October retail launch.

The game secured tournament floor presence at Las Vegas Open 2026, a major annual tabletop gaming convention, placing Gundam Assemble on the same competitive circuit as established war games within months of release. Japanese hobby press framed 2026 as a turning point for Gundam’s competitive tabletop scene, pointing to new trademark filings and higher tournament prize pools as signs the ecosystem was maturing in real time.

This infrastructure-first approach treats organized play as core to the brand rather than a feature added after retail success. The combination of a centralized platform, convention appearances, and monthly product releases positions Gundam Assemble for sustained competitive viability rather than a single launch push.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Gundam Assemble officially launch?

Bandai officially launched Gundam Assemble in October 2026 with five simultaneous products including Starter Set 01, Expansion Packs 01 and 02, and Deluxe Set 01.

How many Gundam Assemble products are planned for the first year?

More than 30 items are planned worldwide within the first year, following a monthly release cadence similar to trading card games rather than traditional model lines.

What releases are confirmed for early 2027?

Six products are confirmed for January through March 2027: four expansion packs at $40 each, Deluxe Set 03 at $170, and Scenario Pack 01 at $55.

Do I need to buy multiple starter sets?

No. Starter Set 01 provides all baseline components including board, dice, and terrain. Expansion packs plug directly into that base without requiring additional starter sets.

What is the difference between expansion packs and deluxe sets?

Expansion packs contain three miniatures, nine tactics cards, and tokens at $40 with no board or dice. Deluxe sets contain 10+ miniatures, multiple scenarios, maps, and full game components at $100-$170, functioning as semi-standalone products for larger battles.