 | Digital Release | PC December 19, 2012 (JP) |
| Delisting | February 16, 2022 – In-Game Purchases Disabled March 30, 2022 – Server Shutdown |
|
| Developer | Headlock | |
| Publisher | BANDAI NAMCO Online | |
| Available On | None | |
| Links | Mobile Suit Gundam Online homepage [Archive] |
Delisting
Bandai NAMCO announced on December 14th, 2021 that the Japan-exclusive PC title would be shutting down the following year on March 30th, 2022. The Google translated statement follows:
Thank you for your continued patronage of Mobile Suit Gundam Online. The official service of Mobile Suit Gundam Online, which has been used by more people since the official service started on December 25, 2012, will be terminated on March 30, 2022 (Wednesday). We deeply apologize for the sudden announcement to our customers.
Since the start of the service, we have been conducting events, updates, balance adjustments, etc. so that we can provide better services, but as a result of considering the recent changes in the environment surrounding this service and future development, we decided to end the service.
We have been supported by many people for nine years since the service started in December 2012. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the entire operation and development team.
Bandai NAMCO Announcement – December 14, 2021
The full post detailed the remainder of updates and content coming to the game over the next few months and pointed out that the in-game currency, Banacoin, would not expire and could be used in other online titles.The ability to redeem Banacoin in Mobile Suit Gundam Online then ended on February 16th, 2022.
Originally locked to the Japanese territory, servers for China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau were added between 2015 and 2016 but were shut down in 2019. The region requirements were also removed in 2019 and anyone able to create a Japanese Bandai account could then sign into the game. This was likely a move to consolidate all players to a smaller pool of servers and keep lobbies more active.
As suggested in the announcement, the decision to shut the game down was likely a combination of performance issues — either of the game client itself or the server infrastructure — and the dwindling number of players to fill its touted “52 vs 52” PvP lobbies.
About the Game
Adapted from: Gundam Fandom Wiki
Launched on December 19th, 2012 after six months of alpha and beta testing. The game was originally region locked to Japan, later opened in 2019 to any player worldwide as long as they created a Japanese Bandai account. Servers were run for mainland China starting in January of 2015. Servers for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau came online in August of 2016 but were shut down in February of 2019.
Players can create their own avatars and play as a Mobile Suit pilot. Up to 104 players can battle in huge 52 vs. 52 multiplayer skirmishes. Mobile Suits are divided into Assault, Heavy, Support, Artillery or Sniper roles. Each Mobile Suit also has a cost associated with it, between 200 and 400 points, with more powerful Mobile Suits having a higher cost. Originally the game focused on Mobile Suit combat from the time of the One Year War, with each subsequent update adding more Mobile Suits and technology from the later stages of the war. In 2014 the game would expand beyond the One Year War and they would gradually begin adding more Mobile Suits from later in the Universal Century over the years.
Teams were originally divided into Federation and Zeon, but in 2019, for the seven year anniversary, the game was expanded to other Gundam timelines and the teams were restructured into Order and Rebellion.