Apex Legends Gets Gundam Crossover
Respawn Entertainment announced a major Apex Legends x Gundam crossover event starting March 10. The collaboration brings Gundam-themed cosmetic items, character skins, and more to the battle royale. This marks one of the biggest anime crossovers for the popular shooter.
The upcoming crossover will see eight specific Legends receive skins modeled after famous Mobile Suits. Valkyrie will get a Wing Gundam Zero skin, while Crypto's is inspired by the Freedom Gundam. Other Legends receiving Gundam-themed skins include Alter as Gundam Epyon, Conduit as Gundam Aerial, Gibraltar as Xi Gundam, Mirage as Destiny Gundam Spec II, Octane as GQuuuuuux, and Revenant as Gundam Deathscythe Hell. Beyond character skins, the event introduces a significant amount of themed content. This includes eight weapon skins such as the "Buster Rifle" Kraber and "Aerial 301" R-301, as well as new Mythic items like the Epyon Heat Rod and Beam Saber. The Broken Moon map will also be transformed into a Gundam battlefield, featuring destroyed Mobile Suits and massive, climbable Wing Gundam statues. A limited-time "Wildcard" game mode will be introduced with new abilities themed around the Gundam franchise. These include "Epyon's Lash," a magnetic melee pull, and "Zero Rebirth," which grants players a second chance after being knocked down. Players can also unlock an Epic Char Aznable-inspired Sparrow skin through the Reward Shop by earning medals during the event. While this is a major anime collaboration, it's not the first time Apex Legends has drawn inspiration from Japanese animation. A previous "Gaiden" event in July 2022 introduced skins referencing popular series like *One Piece*, *Naruto*, *My Hero Academia*, and *Neon Genesis Evangelion*. However, the Gundam crossover appears to be more extensive, with map takeovers and dedicated new abilities. The collaboration also extends into the physical world, with Bandai Namco releasing three limited-edition *Apex Legends*-inspired Gunpla (Gundam plastic models). These model kits will be themed after the legends Crypto, Valkyrie, and Alter, with pre-orders starting on March 18. The *Gundam* franchise, which began in 1979 with the anime series *Mobile Suit Gundam*, is a cornerstone of the "real robot" mecha genre. It is known for its depiction of giant robots as militaristic tools of war. Over its more than 40-year history, the franchise has grown to include over 50 TV series, films, and a massive industry of Gunpla model kits.
