Game Watch has a new update for a forthcoming Senjou no Kizuna patch. Including tweaks to the Great canyon map, that give improved routes of access to either side of the area, as well as numerous other briefing and HUD improvements. The most interesting addition though is that of the RGM-79FC Striker Custom from the manga Mobile Suit Gundam Katana. This, despite the Gundam head, is actually a souped up GM Striker that’s built for melee combat. This is an interesting mobile suit to add to the game, as much of the game’s battles are pretty ranged (most of the time anyway). So picking basically a melee only unit will be pretty damn ballsy. In addition to the Striker Custom, the suitably yawn-tastic MS-06S Zaku II Johnny Ridden Custom has also been added to the game’s mobile suit ranks. Whilst we do have an affection for the character, the fact that this is basically a standard commander Zaku II (and not the high mobility variant, which is what made Ridden so famous) is a bit underwhelming.

Slightly different from usual, GameWatch has a piece on the addition of two new mobile suits to the arcade version of Gundam Extreme Versus. Specifically that of the CB-002 Raphael Gundam from the Gundam 00 movie Awakening of the Trailblazer and the XM-X1 (F97) Crossbone Gundam X-1 Kai Kai “Skull Heart” (in Full Cloth garb) from the extended Crossbone Gundam manga Skullheart and Steel 7. The update is different in the sense that these mobile suits aren’t permanent entries but will only be available from September 28th to October 17th. This is all part of a cunning plan to help promote a large tournament as well as the upcoming release of the PS3 port in December (the latter you can still pre-order here). Whether both units will be present in the port remains to be seen but it’s likely they’ll be included in some form.

GameWatch has a new post on a forthcoming Senjou no Kizuna update on the 12th September. Rev 3.02 will feature a mock battle training setup as well as return the private battle functionality. Two more mobile suits will also join the ranks too; the MS-21C Dra-C and the RX-78GP01-Fb Gundam Full Vernian “Zephyranthes” from Gundam 0083. We’re big fans of the Shoji Kawamori designed mobile suits in that series and the Full Vernian is no exception to that. It’s an interesting choice though, as the other mobile suits may be a tad underpowered by comparison. In addition to this news, apparently the cabinets around Japan will also be updated with HD (1080p) projectors to help with picture clarity.

In an update for Gundam Extreme Versus, scheduled for today no less, a classic Zeta Gundam mobile armor will be added to the ranks of the game. Specifically, the PMX-000 Messala piloted by the wonderfully evil Paptimus Scirocco. Whilst being one of our favourite Kazumi Fujita designs, next to the Tyrant Sword, what’s most misleading about this mobile armor is that at first glance it appears to be a mobile suit. It’s only when you see the scale of it (close to 30 metres) that you realise that this puppy is rather large. In addition, you can also call for assistance in the game which manifests itself in the form of a few RX-110 Gabthley units. For more pictures, 4Gamer has a nice breakdown on the new unit and we’ve included a brief video of the mobile armor in action from the anime below.

Game Watch has a new piece on Rev 3.01 for Senjou no Kizuna. Despite having two new mobile suits; in the form of the RX-78GP01 Gundam “Zephyranthes” and the AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra, it also sports a new map (that of the California Base). This new level also has a slew of HLVs dotted across the area, which launch at various points too, as well as a large mass driver separating the map. We’ve linked a new video below and it’s also clear that the Rev 3 update also massively improved the game’s lighting and particle system. The update goes live on Friday 29th July. In addition the Gundam you see at the beginning of the video below, if you’re at all curious, is the RX-78-6 Mudrock Gundam that was prominently featured in the rather awesome PS2 game Zeonic Front.

4Gamer has the scoop on a new update to Gundam Extreme Versus next week on the 20th July. Whilst it features the wonderfully evil XM-X2 (F97) Crossbone Gundam X-2 Kai, piloted by the suitably toffee nosed Zabine Chareux, the update will also include the somewhat controversial GNT-0000 00 Qan[T]. Controversial in the sense that the Quan[T]’s main functional remit is to make conflict redundant, through mutual telepathic understanding via sparkly green fairy dust. How this will be implemented in the arcades remains to be seen but we expect a logarithmic increase in hugging and love-ins post matches involving the new suit. Either way both new suits look lovely in-game and we’re seriously losing our minds over the lack of a home console port.

Game Watch has a new piece on the forthcoming Rev 3 update for Senjou no Kizuna, aka that Gundam arcade game with the palpably awesome cockpit. Emphasising its palapable awesomeness, the new revision will feature a “real frame” cockpit (pictured above) too. Apart from some additional unit unlock changes, the update is a bit sparse and seems to be more a framework for further additions (much like Rev 2.5 was really). Considering that the hardware that runs this game is now eight years old, we’re moderately impressed that it’s survived this long.

Over at 4Gamer they have an update regarding Konami’s upcoming Steel Chronicle, which is sort of a Border Break/Monster Hunter clone. Basically the location test will start today and to commemorate that Konami have released some footage of the game in action. To be honest, it looks pretty awful and really rather pedestrian/dull. Hopefully the location test will garner some useful feedback in order for Konami to improve, what appears at least, to be a woeful arcade game.

One of our favourite arcade games, is getting another new and quite substantial update. The recently “released” Border Break Airburst will be updated with all manner of new mecha and maps on June 29th. As well as having a slightly modified but more focused twist to a core game type. Specifically, Border Break works by having opposing teams kill each other and capture spawn points. The more spawnpoints and enemies killed results in a win for that side. However, each team has a well defended base with a vulnerable core. Destroying an opposing side’s core nets a win instantly. This new mode effectively has the focus shifted to directly attacking or defending a side’s core, eschewing all the tactical land grabs from capturing spawn points. From our experience, some of the most heated battles were always around a team’s core so it’s cool that a game mode has sort of taken this into account. In addition, in a partial nod to Armored Core no doubt, players can now also customise emblems for their mecha.

Whilst there is still no news of a home console port of the Border Break games, the fact that the Wii U is on the horizon (with a nice touchscreen setup) could mean we may see this on a console sooner rather than previously, well, never.

Following last week’s leak, the somewhat kiddy Gundam AGE has received its official announcement. From a nice animated promo (shown below) to the news that Level 5 are indeed also helming not only the series’ story but also the game tie-ins (specifically an as yet yet untitled RPG). It seems Bandai have set their money making machine to go up to eleven this time. One of the arcade game tie-ins in particular is rather interesting though. Entitled Gage-ing Battle Base it effectively has kids place their newly built model kits into a reader of some sort that then generates battle stats for them to play with. It’s like Barcode Battlers high fived with the people behind Gunpla Builders. There’s also a card battling game called Gundam Triage on the way too, which will feature all manner of series including the forthcoming Gundam AGE. If we’re brutally honest, whilst we do love Level 5’s output it does feel misplaced here. This is not to say that kid’s in giant real robot mecha can’t be interesting, as Vifam and V Gundam do kinda prove that it can work, but that it’s probably gone too far in this case. The series is expected to start this October.

Update: Seems that Kanetake Ebikawa has done the primary mecha design of the titular Gundam AGE-1. The “mega size” 1/48 scale kit looks pretty cool too.