Gundam X Turns 30 as the G-Controller Returns in PROPLICA Form
Thirty years after After War Gundam X first aired, Bandai is celebrating the anniversary by revisiting one of the series' most recognizable pieces of equipment.
The G-Controller is returning as a new high-end PROPLICA collectible, complete with lights, sounds, vibration effects, newly recorded dialogue, music, and multiple interactive modes.
For Gundam X fans, this is one of those announcements that immediately makes you think, "Wait, they are actually doing the G-Controller?"
And there is a little history behind it, too.
This is not the first time fans have been able to own a G-Controller. A toy version was previously released during the original After War Gundam X era in the 1990s. The new PROPLICA release, however, takes the concept in a very different direction, turning the controller into a premium adult collector item with interactive features designed around moments from the anime.
That is especially fitting because the G-Controller was not just some random accessory Garrod carried around.
In After War Gundam X, the removable device was required to activate the Gundam X and operate the Satellite System. The G-Controller used by Garrod was also used with the Gundam X Divider and later the Gundam Double X.
After Garrod moved on to the Double X, Jamil had the Gundam X Divider modified so it could operate without the G-Controller.
So yes, this little device is actually a pretty big deal.
The new PROPLICA G-Controller is scheduled for release in February 2027 and will be priced at 20,350 yen, tax included. Pre-orders through Premium Bandai's Tamashii Web Shop are scheduled to begin on August 28 at 4:00 PM JST.
The G-Controller comes with a dedicated display stand, which is more than just somewhere to park it on the shelf. The stand is also used with the controller's Operation Mode, letting us recreate the experience of operating Gundam X and its equipment.
The PROPLICA release features three modes: Story Mode, Operation Mode, and Satellite System Mode.
Story Mode includes 39 newly recorded dialogue clips, along with secret voice content, letting us revisit scenes and dialogue from the series.
Operation Mode turns the G-Controller into the closest thing most of us are ever getting to actually operating Gundam X. The controller features light, sound, and vibration effects, while the dedicated stand allows it to be used in its operation setup.
Then there is the main event.
Satellite System Mode recreates the sequence leading up to the firing of the Satellite Cannon, including the energy charging effects. The mode is based on scenes from Episode 5 and Episode 39, letting us relive two of the series' most memorable Satellite Cannon moments with the G-Controller in hand.
The replica also includes five BGM tracks, which adds a little extra Gundam X atmosphere to the experience.
For Gundam X's 30th anniversary, this feels like such a wonderfully specific release. We have seen plenty of Gundam merchandise over the years, but the G-Controller is the kind of deep-cut item that immediately tells us someone remembered the details.
It has also been three decades since After War Gundam X first aired in 1996, and the anniversary has already started giving the series some well-deserved attention. Alongside the PROPLICA G-Controller announcement, Bandai has also confirmed that the Gundam Double X will be joining the METAL ROBOT SPIRITS line, with further details still to come.
The G-Controller has been released before, but seeing it return as a full PROPLICA item makes this anniversary release feel like something special.
Thirty years later, the Satellite System is getting ready to activate once again.
Now the only question is...
Is the moon out?
