Gundam Battle Operation 3: free-to-play on PS5 and PC

Bandai Namco has announced Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 3, a free-to-play team battle game for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, with cross-play between the two. It was revealed during the Gundam Games 40th anniversary livestream and is developed by Bandai Namco Forge Digitals.

Mobile suits and infantry on the same field

Players take the role of mercenaries. The big change from earlier Battle Operation games is that mobile suits and infantry fight together: you can leave the cockpit to plant bombs on enemy bases, call in support fire and secure objectives on foot, then climb back in. Bandai Namco also lists SP Skills, a Battle Assist system to help newer players, and a refined interface.

Which Gundam series are included

The game draws on both the Universal Century timeline and the Alternative series. According to Gematsu, launch content covers Mobile Suit Gundam, The 08th MS Team, 0083: Stardust Memory and Gundam SEED, with two or three more Alternative series planned during the first year.

Languages and network tests

Supported languages are English, Japanese, Korean, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese. There is no release date yet.

A Japan-only cross-play network test runs on November 20 and 22, in three sessions each day: 09:00–12:00, 15:00–18:00 and 21:00–24:00 JST. Bandai Namco says an open network test will follow, but hasn't said when or where.

What we still don't know

The announcement leaves several big questions open. Bandai Namco hasn't detailed how the free-to-play model will make money, whether through cosmetics, a battle pass or unlockable mobile suits. It hasn't named the full mobile suit roster, the map count or how many players each match will hold. PS4 and Xbox are not mentioned, and it's unclear whether the planned open network test will include players outside Japan. Expect more details closer to the November test.

What it means for players

Battle Operation 2 has been running on PlayStation for years, so a sequel that adds PC and cross-play could bring in a much larger player base, as long as the free-to-play model stays fair. If you're planning to play on PC, our PC game controller buying guide and gaming monitor guide are good places to start.