Bandai Hobby held their online announcement for Q4 2026 releases, where most of them were already revealed during the Shizuoka Hobby Show some weeks ago. That said, they reserved one of the announcements for the online reveal, and it’s probably the one I’ll end up buying.
Following the HG Alteisen released in 2021, we are now getting the HG Alteisen Riese in December 2026. First seen in Super Robot Wars Compact 2 Part 3: Galaxy Showdown, the Alteisen Riese has since become a popular design from the Super Robot Wars Original Generation story.
Much like other Super Robot Wars kits in the HG line, design of the Alteisen Riese has been supervised by producer Terada Takanobu. He also notes that the HG kit is actually an amalgamation of previous interpretations from different artists. You’re literally getting the best of all worlds with this kit.
My HG Alteisen is still in the backlog as of this post, but if you enjoyed building that kit, then it’s a no brainer that you’ll also enjoy this one. Together with the excellent parts separation and ample articulation such a bulky design could have, the kit also features several gimmicks as seen here. The rear backpack has movable thrusters along with the Tesla Drive Balancers on each shoulder. In addition, separate parts to recreate the Plasma Horn attack.
HG Alteisen Riese
December 2026 / ¥6,800
Order from HobbyLink Japan
I skipped pre-orders on this next one, though I probably should have?
We already knew the HG Gundam Ashtaron is getting a regular release, likely as part of the Gundam X 30th anniversary in 2026. It has all the bells and whistles a modern High Grade has, and is able to transform into its relatively simple mobile armor mode. While I don’t normally collect villan mobile suits, this guy does trigger some nostalgia as the original 1/144 Gundam Ashtaron was one of the first kits I bought when I started this hobby. So, I might probably pick one up when it becomes available in local retail.
HG 1/144 Gundam Ashtaron
November 2026 / ¥3,600
Order from HobbyLink Japan
Last on this list and the least Iikely I’ll purchase is the MG Gundam Liberty Astray Red Frame from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ASTRAY.
The Gundam Astray is one of those designs Bandai Hobby will have no qualms to milk kits from, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when they announced it’s latest incarnation will be getting the Master Grade treatment. I am more curious of the in-universe implications of this mobile suit given how they finally moved on from the original MBF Astray base unit with the Liberty Astray versions.
If ever they decide to do this guy in 1/144 scale, expect that I’ll have my pre-orders locked, though I’m not holding my breath for that possibility.
MG 1/100 Gundam Liberty Astray Red Frame
December 2026 / ¥7,500
Order from HobbyLink Japan
There’s one more kit they revealed at Shizuoka not included in these announcements, but had pre-orders dropped at the same week over at Premium Bandai…
