If you’re a Gundam fan, you know the feeling. The silence between major releases can be deafening. We finish a series, build the kits, and then immediately turn our eyes to the horizon, asking, “What’s next?” The rumor mill churns, fan theories fly, and we piece together clues like detectives.
But lately, the whispers have gotten louder. A new energy is buzzing through the community, all centered around a supposed major announcement from Bandai: a commitment to annual, big-name releases for the foreseeable future.
If this is true, we’re standing on the edge of a new golden age for Gundam. It’s time to put on our tinfoil Newtype helmets, connect the dots, and map out what the franchise roadmap from 2025 to 2029 could look like.
2025: The Return of the Son of Bright Noa
Let’s start with the big one, the theory that has set Reddit ablaze: Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway Part 2 is coming in 2025.
Frankly, this just makes too much sense. The first film was a cinematic masterpiece that left us on a brutal, breathtaking cliffhanger back in 2021. The fan demand is at a fever pitch. A four-year gap is more than enough time for Sunrise to deliver a sequel that meets the impossibly high standard of the first.
But the evidence goes deeper. We’re seeing a strategic alignment of the entire franchise. The new Gundam Trading Card Game is gaining traction, and what better way to launch a massive new set than with the hype of a Hathaway sequel? Imagine pulling a holographic Xi Gundam or a shiny new Gustav Karl card right as the movie hits.
Then there’s the mobile game side. SD Gundam G Generation Eternal is poised for global reach. Collabs are the lifeblood of these games, and a massive movie release provides the perfect event. A Mafty-themed event with new units, story chapters, and login bonuses would be a guaranteed money-maker and a fantastic way to cross-promote. The pieces are all there. Bandai is building an ecosystem, and Hathaway 2 is the perfect keystone for 2025.
2026 and Beyond: Charting the Universal Century and New Frontiers
Okay, so we get Hathaway 2 in 2025. What about the year after? And the year after that? An annual release schedule means the content train doesn’t stop.
The Obvious Path: Hathaway Part 3. The story of Hathaway Noa is a trilogy. A 2027 release for the finale seems logical, giving the team another two years to deliver a gut-wrenching conclusion to one of the Universal Century’s darkest tales.
The Fan Dream: Crossbone Gundam. After the late UC adventures of Hathaway, where do you go? For years, fans have been screaming for an anime adaptation of Crossbone Gundam. It’s the perfect follow-up. It features beloved characters like Seabook Arno and Judau Ashta, introduces some of the most outlandish and beloved mobile suit designs (pirate Gundams!), and bridges the gap between F91 and Victory Gundam. A high-budget OVA series or even a movie would be an instant fan-favorite.
The Wildcard: A New Alternate Universe. Let’s be real: Bandai knows that fresh entry points are crucial for the health of the franchise. The Witch from Mercury wasn’t just a success; it was a cultural phenomenon that brought in a tidal wave of new, younger fans. Bandai isn’t going to let that momentum die. By 2028 or 2029, I would bet my last bottle of panel liner that we’ll be gearing up for a brand new AU series with a new world, new characters, and most importantly, a massive new line of Gunpla.
And don’t forget the Cosmic Era. The SEED Freedom movie was a box office juggernaut. It proved that the love for Kira Yamato and company is stronger than ever. It’s not a stretch to imagine another movie or a follow-up OVA series entering production to capitalize on that incredible success.
The Great Debate: What Even Is a “Success”?
This flurry of speculation inevitably brings up one of the community’s favorite arguments: what makes a Gundam series a success versus a “failure”?
You’ll see people online debating the merits of different series, but we’re often talking about different things. When Bandai looks at a show, their number one metric is almost certainly “How much plastic did it move?”
This is where a show like The Witch from Mercury shines. You can debate the story pacing or the ending all you want, but you cannot argue with the sales numbers. The G-Witch kits were constantly sold out. Stores couldn’t keep Aerial, Calibarn, or Schwarzette on the shelves. It was a Gunpla monster, and in the eyes of the people funding the next project, that makes it an unqualified hit.
Does this mean a series with a beloved story but weaker kit sales is a failure? Not necessarily to us, the fans. But it highlights the dual nature of Gundam. It is both a storytelling medium and a marketing vehicle for model kits. A true grand slam, like the original series or SEED, succeeds wildly on both fronts.
The roadmap ahead will likely be a mix of projects designed to appeal to different parts of the fandom. Hathaway is for the hardcore, lore-invested UC fans. A new AU will be the entry point for the next generation. A Crossbone adaptation would be pure, unadulterated fan service. It’s a smart, diversified portfolio approach to giant robots.
The next five years look incredibly bright. From the gritty realism of the Universal Century to whatever bold new universe they dream up next, one thing is for sure: it’s a great time to be a Gundam fan.
Now, what’s on your wishlist for the next five years? Let me know in the comments below!
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