HGCE 1/144 Murasame Kai Early Production Type launches in December 2026

The Murasame is getting another chance to take flight in Gunpla form! Bandai Spirits has announced the HG 1/144 Murasame Kai (Early Production Type), a new High Grade kit based on the mobile suit appearing in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO.

The kit is scheduled for release in December 2026 at a Japanese retail price of 2,970 yen, making it the first of the three newly announced SEED FREEDOM ZERO HG releases to arrive in stores.

Fans of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY will recognize the Murasame family as one of the Orb Union's signature mobile suit designs. The original Murasame is especially notable for its ability to transform between mobile suit and flight modes, giving Orb's forces a versatile option for both aerial combat and conventional mobile suit engagements.

The Murasame Kai Early Production Type adds another variation to this design family. Its appearance in SEED FREEDOM ZERO also gives Gunpla fans an opportunity to build a mobile suit connected to the broader military forces of the SEED setting, rather than focusing exclusively on the main characters' Gundams.

At 1/144 scale, the upcoming kit should be an interesting choice for builders who enjoy assembling Orb mobile suits or expanding a collection of SEED-era aircraft-inspired designs. Its relatively accessible price also puts it below the other two announced kits, at least based on their Japanese retail prices.

The December launch is particularly well timed. It arrives just weeks before Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO opens in Japanese theaters on January 15, 2027. The film is a prequel to Gundam SEED FREEDOM, the 2024 movie that became the highest-grossing theatrical release in Gundam history, earning more than 5 billion yen and attracting three million admissions in Japan.

The release also lands during the run-up to the original Gundam SEED anime's 25th anniversary in October 2027. For longtime fans, seeing the franchise receive new animated material and fresh Gunpla releases is a fitting way to celebrate a series that helped define a generation of Gundam viewers.

The kit will also feature Bandai’s SEED Action System, designed to provide a wide range of articulation for dynamic posing. Its design and newly molded parts will recreate the GOUF Ignited Custom as it appears in SEED FREEDOM ZERO.

Release info

Product: HG 1/144 Murasame Kai (Early Production Type)

Release date: December 2026, Japan

Price: 2,970 yen, including tax