Gundam Evolution is the next in a long line of games based on the widely popular Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. It's hard to overstate just how popular the series of anime, manga, novels, and films has become since its initial release in 1979. Creating the "real robot" genre of mecha anime, the series has focused on a more realistic depiction of its giant mechs, called mobile suits. The franchise is widely known for grim depictions of the horrors of war juxtaposed against the objectively fun premise of giant space robots fighting with laser swords. Games have long been a part of the formula alongside dominating the plastic model market, and Gundam Evolution is next in line.
While Gundam drew fairly quick success in Japan, albeit after a brief cancellation of the original due to its heavy-handed themes, it took a while for the series to really reach the mainstream in the west. What changed the game for Gundam was airing Gundam Wing in the mid-90's. The series still focused on many of the same themes as its predecessors, but with a heavy dose of personal drama and "edge" that was perfectly suited for the era. It quickly joined the ranks of other Gundam series as some of the best anime to this day in many fans' eyes. Though Gundam Evolution has debuted a host of different mobile suits in its early gameplay reveals, it is noticeably bereft of Gundam Wing models – and that should change.
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Since Gundam Evolution is a hero-shooter very much in line with Overwatch, the available mobile suits will play a huge role in its success. The concept of a hero-shooter fits the Gundam mold well in theory. Each of the iconic mobile suits included so far in Gundam Evolution come with different loadouts, mobility options, and special weapons that could really flourish in the arena of objective-based shooters if executed well. The one thing that's obvious from the trailer is a focus on mobile suits and Gundams from the core canon of Mobile Suit Gundam, known as the Universal Century (U.C.). This timeline largely focuses on the conflict between the Earth Federation Defense Force and the Principality of Zeon.
Many popular Gundam series actually exist outside of that canon, and this includes Gundam Wing. That being said, Bandai Namco hasn't shied away from using characters from spin-offs like Gundam Wing and G Gundam in previous games like the Dynasty Warriors: Gundam series. Since Gundam Evolution is being designed with Esports in mind, it stands to reason that Bandai Namco would like for the game to have as broad an appeal as possible. This makes the exclusion of Gundam Wing something it would be smart to avoid.
With so little known about the game as of yet, as it was recently announced, it's unclear whether the selection of mobile suits seen in the first trailer and the brief gameplay showcase represent the full roster. Gundam Wing was the entry point for many Western Gundam fans, so including some of its iconic mobile suits like the titular Gundam Wing, Deathscythe, and OZ's Tallgeese or Epyon would go a long way in capturing a wider audience. The overall Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has come to be known well even among fans in the West, but Gundam Wing was what first got many fans' attention. As such, including its iconic suits and the heroes inside would be a big way to help Gundam Evolution succeed.
Gundam Evolution is currently in development.
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