Bandai Announces 'MG Final Vote 2025' for Master Grade Gunpla Reissues
Bandai Spirits empowers the global Gunpla community to decide which Master Grade kit gets a new production run.
Bandai Spirits has officially announced the "MG Final Vote 2025," a global initiative empowering fans to decide which Master Grade (MG) model kits will be selected for a future reissue. This event meets direct consumer demand and regulates price distortions in the secondary market, ensuring key kits remain available to modelers.
Voting Mechanics and Phases
The vote uses fan preference data to guide the production schedule. Given the extensive catalog of the Master Grade line since its 1995 debut, continuous production of all models is logistically unfeasible. This initiative allows Bandai to prioritize manufacturing the kits with the highest latent demand. The process is structured in two stages to ensure a conclusive result:
- Primary Phase (until July 20): During this initial period, participants can cast their vote from an extensive list of eligible MG kits.
- Final Phase (July 23 to 31): The vote will focus exclusively on the top 20 models that accumulated the most votes in the previous phase. This final stage ensures the winning kit has a clear mandate and broad community consensus.
The Master Grade (MG) Line as the Gunpla Standard
A key feature of this vote is the status the Master Grade line holds in the Gunpla hobby. Introduced in 1995 at a standard 1/100 scale, the MG line established a new paradigm in science fiction modeling through its design complexity and emphasis on mechanical detail. Its most distinctive technical feature is the implementation of a fully articulated inner frame, upon which the outer armor pieces are assembled. This engineering approach not only provides the final model with a superior range of articulation but also lends it a high degree of mechanical realism. These kits often feature detailed cockpits with pilot figures, sliding armor panels that reveal internal details, and, where applicable, functional transformation mechanisms.
Historical Context: Voting as a Market Indicator
The "MG Final Vote 2025" continues Bandai's strategy of community engagement. Previous events, such as the "Premium Bandai Gunpla General Election 2023," have served as valuable indicators of market trends. In that election, kits with high mechanical complexity from established series like Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam or Universal Century designs, such as the MG V2 Assault Buster Gundam Ver.Ka and the MG Hyaku Shiki Kai, ranked among the highest. These events function as a market research tool, allowing Bandai to identify products with guaranteed demand, thereby reducing the financial risk associated with reactivating old production molds.
Impact on the Market and Collector Community
The voting results will have direct consequences for collectors. Reissues are the manufacturer's primary tool to counteract artificial scarcity and price inflation caused by speculative reselling (scalping). The launch of a new production run for a highly sought-after kit stabilizes its market value, making it accessible again at its recommended retail price. Additionally, this reissue program ensures that new modelers can access classic and iconic models from the catalog, preserving the legacy and history of the Gunpla line for an ever-growing audience.
This vote gives fans a powerful voice in Gunpla production. Which Master Grade kit are you hoping to see win the reissue poll? Let us know in the comments below!
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Sources
- What is Gunpla? | Gundam Modeling for Beginners. YouTube. (Accessed July 7, 2025)
- ALL [Gunpla] GRADES (Find the BEST one for YOU). YouTube. (Accessed July 7, 2025)
- P-Bandai Gunpla General Election 2023｜Premium Bandai. (Note: Accessing P-Bandai Japan links may require a VPN.) (Accessed July 7, 2025)
- It's official: The MG4 was positioned as the favorite of Chileans in the 2025 Automotive Awards. MG Motor. (Accessed July 7, 2025)
- 2025... We need more MG. Please, Bandai. : r/Gunpla. Reddit. (Accessed July 7, 2025)
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