The latest Gashapon news...

Bandai has just revealed the full line-up for Senshi Forte volume 09, and this time we are getting Universal Century figurines only. For the first time since the series' opening the SD Gundam character has been ditched. Instead we have three mobile suits from Char's Counterattack which will go nicely with the old Geara Dogas and the upcoming Alpha Azieru. The last two units will be familiar faces to Converge and Universal Unit veterans; the two versions of the Zeta Plus. Bandai's lead developer K Sawa writes on the Gashapon blog that he would have liked to do colour variations (the Zeta Plus A1 is also available in red and white for Karaba Air Force) but this was not possible, presumably due to cost considerations.

And talking about costs, this is a real concern for us Senshi Forte fans. We have already discussed this topic on the blog before and again Bandai confirms that rising production costs means that Senshi Forte 09 will be produced at a loss. K Sawa writes (and Google translates):


"ガシャポン戦士fになってからもう2年。開発スタートから3年経ちました。早いものですね・・・。 生産コストの高騰は全然止まらず、300円では利益ではなく損失が出るようになり、いよいよシリーズをどうするか？を考えていかなければいけない状況になってきました。本当にどうしなきゃいけないのか真剣に考えなきゃいけない時が来てますね。 ・・・が、10弾の発売は決定しております。 なんだったら、原型も完了しております。"

"It has been two years since I became a Gashapon warrior f. Three years have passed since the start of development. Time passes quickly... The soaring cost of production does not stop at all, and at 300 yen, it will not be a profit but a loss, so what are you going to do with the series? It is in a situation where you have to think about The time has come when you have to seriously consider what you really have to do. ... but, the release of 10 bullets has been decided . After all, the prototype is also complete."


It is not all darkness though. Senshi Forte volume 10 is confirmed, and planning for volume 11 has begun. Two mobile suits for volume ten are also confirmed, their designs were made already in 2017; the Alex and the Zaku II Kai. Teaser sketches have been released for them as well: