{"id":34716,"date":"2026-08-09T16:03:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T11:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=34716"},"modified":"2026-08-09T16:03:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T11:03:57","slug":"the-last-starfighter-meets-armored-core-in-huge-new-sci-fi-mech-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=34716","title":{"rendered":"The Last Starfighter Meets Armored Core In Huge New Sci-Fi Mech Game"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>Mech games are surprisingly few and far between, with one of the last major AAA titles in the genre being <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/armored-core-6\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. Sure, that game is legendary in its own right and a triumph in both fast-paced mech combat and incredible boss design, but it is just one experience and not nearly enough to satiate the appetites of mech fans all over the world. FromSoftware did an admirable job, but it is time for another developer to take the reins and deliver something just as great.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, that may be happening and surprisingly soon. While <em>Armored Core 6<\/em> may remain one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/armored-core-6-review-ps5\/\" target=\"_blank\">best mech games of all time<\/a>, this newcomer to the genre promises to aim for the skies and deliver something new and exciting for the genre. With a push for a more cinematic flair making it feel akin to <em>The Last Starfighter <\/em>and deep levels of customization, this brand-new mech game could become an instant classic, so long as its developers can pull it off.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"gundam-is-finally-back\">\n                        Gundam Is Finally Back<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"928\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A mech holding a rifle in space in Gundam: Rogue Orbit.\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/gundam-rogue-orbit-mech.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">A mech holding a rifle in space in Gundam: Rogue Orbit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>One of the greatest and longest-running mech franchises of all time is <em>Gundam<\/em>. Despite its long history and generally excellent anime, <em>Gundam <\/em>has always struggled when it comes to video games. That&#8217;s not to say that there aren&#8217;t any good <em>Gundam <\/em>games, as that is absolutely not the case, but, rather, its string of releases has been inconsistent at best and frequently fails to match the high quality of its very best shows.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, Bandai Namco looks set to rectify that with the <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/gundam-rogue-orbit-2027-release-date\/\" target=\"_blank\">latest big-budget <em>Gundam<\/em> game<\/a>, <em>Gundam Rogue Orbit<\/em>. Offering the high-octane mech combat one would expect from a <em>Gundam <\/em>game, <em>Rogue Orbit <\/em>promises to be a great entry point for newcomers and a thrilling adventure for long-time fans, something that feels almost necessary at this point considering the generally lackluster video game entries beforehand. However, while its<em> Armored Core 6<\/em>-esque gameplay will undeniably be the highlight of the experience, it is <em>Rogue Orbit&#8217;s <\/em>penchant for the cinematic that could make it a success.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"think-last-starfighter-via-armored-core\">\n                        Think Last Starfighter Via Armored Core<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"928\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gundam covered in fire from Rogue Orbit\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gundam-covered-in-fire-from-rogue-orbit.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Leaning on the strengths of the anime, <em>Gundam Rogue Orbit<\/em> is a more cinematic experience than its predecessors, leveraging its gorgeous visuals and action-packed cutscenes to deliver a hopefully compelling narrative that isn&#8217;t too dissimilar to the iconic sci-fi film, <em>The Last Starfighter<\/em>. Both feature a rag tag team of pilots attempting to defend humanity against a seemingly never-ending extraterrestrial existential threat (which <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/gundam-rogue-orbit-aliens-rule-broken\/\" target=\"_blank\">breaks <em>Gundam&#8217;s <\/em>sacred rule<\/a>), although, in this instance, the preferred mode of transport is a hulking, mechanized suit rather than a swanky spaceship.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, when the going gets tough and players are thrust out of the stylish CG cutscenes, they&#8217;ll need to plow through aliens and clear objectives in quick fashion. Fortunately, from the limited gameplay we&#8217;ve seen, <em>Gundam Rogue Orbit <\/em>looks like a significant improvement over its predecessors in the gameplay department as well, offering a more robust combat model that looks weighty and impactful, much like its clear inspiration,<em> Armored Core 6<\/em>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-note\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom note\" id=\"custom_block_10\">\n<div class=\"custom_block-content note\">\n<p><em>Gundam Rogue Orbit<\/em> is set to release in 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X\/S. A more specific release date will likely be revealed in the coming months.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>One has to assume that there will be complete customization over your mech suit (this is a <em>Gundam <\/em>game after all), allowing you to kit it out with all manner of weapons and body parts to improve your chances against the aforementioned existential threat. If it manages to make its customization feel meaningful and transformative, catering to a vast swathe of unique build types, deliver a compelling and coherent narrative through engaging cinematic cutscenes, and offer weighty yet high-octane and fast-paced combat, then <em>Gundam Rogue Orbit<\/em> may just beat <em><strong>Armored Core 6 <\/strong><\/em>as the best mech game.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card type-video-game large\" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"true\" data-include-community-rating=\"true\" id=\"ae20-41c3-a69a12a3c7c4\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column\">\n<p>                        <!--    Rating block community and brand ratings --><br \/>\n                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img  has-image-group\" data-stnl=\"%7B%22category%22%3A%22Click%20Interactions%22%2C%22name%22%3A%22Display%20Card%22%2C%22action%22%3A%22Fullscreen%20Image%20Load%22%2C%22once%22%3Atrue%7D\" data-stnl-group-once=\"IXN5DdOhaC\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"960\" height=\"1440\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/06\/gundam-rogue-orbit-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <!-- User Rating widget --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n<div class=\"w-display-card-highlight-info\">\n                            <!--  Display card tags widget --><\/p>\n<p>                            <!--  Display card system widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-pills-group\">\n                                        <span class=\"pills-group-title\">Systems<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"pill-group-items\">\n                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/pc\/\" class=\"pill-group-item\" title=\"PC\"><br \/>\n                                                                                                                                                                                    <img width=\"100\" height=\"100\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"PC-1\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2024\/07\/pc-1.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=50&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2024\/07\/pc-1.png?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=50&amp;h=50&amp;dpr=2\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                                                        <\/a>\n                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <!--  Display card community and brand rating widget --><br \/>\n                                                                         <!--  Display card open critics widget --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<dl>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Released<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t                \t\t\t\t2027<br \/>\n            \t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Developer(s)<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBandai Namco Studios<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Publisher(s)<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBandai Namco Entertainment<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Number of Players<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tSingle-player<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Steam Deck Compatibility<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tUnknown<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card media widget start --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card media widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to play button preview --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to play preview end --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-ae20-41c3-a69a12a3c7c4\" name=\"extra-content-ae20-41c3-a69a12a3c7c4\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mech games are surprisingly few and far between, with one of the last major AAA titles in the genre being Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. Sure, that game is legendary in its own right and a triumph in both fast-paced mech combat and incredible boss design, but it is just one experience and not&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/armored-core-6-fires-of-rubicon-mech-gunship-battle.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34716"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34716\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}