Live the future at GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION

The GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION at Expo 2025 Osaka. ©SOTSU・SUNRISE

OSAKA, JAPAN, 22 September 2025 - We’ve walked through plenty of exhibits that promise immersion. But nothing prepared us for the moment we stepped into the GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION at Expo 2025 Osaka. From the moment we entered, it felt like we were leaving Earth behind. Not just visually, but emotionally. The experience was cinematic and surprisingly moving.

Stepping inside, we were transported beyond Earth. The entire place was carefully curated to give you the feel of boarding a space station. The transition from Earth to orbit was seamless soft hums, glowing control panels, and a whole lot of anticipation. The pavilion, in this sense, is a reimagining of the world of GUNDAM as a plausible future.

Through immersive phases, we experienced life in space as an everyday part of life. People casually took orbital elevators. Mobile suits and humans coexisted.

Haro guiding us through our ascend via an orbital elevator. ©SOTSU・SUNRISE

We began our journey at Yumeshima Terminal in Osaka, boarding an orbital elevator bound for Star Jaburo station, 36,000 km above Earth. We had Haro guide us through our ascent. At Star Jaburo, mobile suits like the GUNDAM equipped with the G.L.R.S.S Feather UNIT worked together with humans at the station. Then in the midst of it all came an unexpected incident, and then it was GUNDAM to the rescue!

Chaos outside the Star Jaburo station. ©SOTSU・SUNRISE

Everything happened on massive screens placed strategically all over the hall to resemble the windows of the space station, with the animated characters moving across the room, as if they were really moving about outside the window. Sony’s Haptic Floor technology made every moment tactile and gave the illusion that everything was happening right at the moment we were there. Unreal Engine 5 powered visuals delivered a fully immersive 360° experience that felt startlingly real. Add to that an amazing sound system to bring it all to life. It was such an experience!

G.L.R.S.S Feather UNIT looking into the space station after his battle. ©SOTSU・SUNRISE

What struck us most was the storytelling. GUNDAM has always been about people, choices, and the futures we imagine.

After the eye-opening journey, we stepped outside to meet the RX-78F00/E GUNDAM statue. One knee raised, arm reaching skyward it looked… majestic! So, naturally we posed for some photos with it.

Don't forget to take a pic or more with the giant GUNDAM statue. ©SOTSU・SUNRISE

Here’s our final impressions:

• Immersion: ★★★★★

• Storytelling: ★★★★★

• Visuals & Sound: ★★★★★

• Emotional Impact: ★★★★☆

• Overall Experience: ★★★★★

• Must-Visit Status: Confirmed!

So, if you’re heading to Expo 2025 Osaka, this pavilion is NOT TO BE MISSED, no matter if you’re a GUNDAM fan or just curious about the future of humanity.