Bandai Apologizes After Third-Party 3DCG Image Appears in Gundam Mk-II Promotion

3d image/model of Gundam MK-II. Credit to DEERHUNTER, image from X

BANDAI SPIRITS has issued a formal apology after promotional material for the METAL STRUCTURE KAITAI-SHOU-KI RX-178 Gundam Mk-II AEUG Version mistakenly included a 3DCG image created by the online artist and modeler DEERHUNTER (@_deerhunter).

The affected material appeared on the official Tamashii Nations website and the Gundam figure brand’s official X account following the product’s unveiling on August 27, 2026.

DEERHUNTER publicly identified the image as his work and contacted Bandai’s official Gundam figure account. He described the situation as an apparent mistake and expressed hope that it could be resolved through a correction.

This promotional material for the METAL STRUCTURE KAITAI-SHOU-KI Gundam Mk-II included a third-party 3DCG image created by DEERHUNTER (@_deerhunter). BANDAI SPIRITS said the image was used as a temporary placeholder and mistakenly remained in the published material before being removed.

After investigating the matter, Bandai confirmed that a third party’s independently produced 3DCG image had mistakenly appeared in its official promotional material.

According to the company, the image was inserted as a temporary placeholder while the Gundam Mk-II product page was being created. It was accidentally left in the finished page instead of being replaced before publication.

Bandai has since removed every affected version of the image from the Tamashii Nations website and its official social-media posts. The company apologized to customers, the creator and other involved parties for the trouble caused by the mistake.

This Gundam Mk-II development graphic was previously published by BANDAI SPIRITS with a third-party 3DCG image created by DEERHUNTER (@_deerhunter) included among Bandai’s concept sketches. Bandai said the 3DCG image was a temporary placeholder mistakenly left in the published material and has since removed it.

Bandai emphasized that the actual KAITAI-SHOU-KI Gundam Mk-II is being designed and engineered independently according to the brand’s own interpretation.

The official statement only confirms that DEERHUNTER’s image was mistakenly used in the promotional material. It does not say that his 3D model was used to design or manufacture the figure.

No cancellation, redesign or release delay has been announced. The approximately 310 mm completed figure remains scheduled for release in Japan in January 2027, priced at ¥137,500.

Collectors should nevertheless disregard the removed 3DCG image when judging the final product. Only Bandai’s remaining official photographs, physical prototypes and confirmed specifications should be treated as accurate representations of the figure.

Bandai concluded its statement by asking people not to harass individuals outside the company or spread information whose accuracy has not been established. DEERHUNTER also expressed hope that no Bandai employee would be personally reprimanded over the mistake.

Gundam Space Engineers will continue monitoring the situation for additional corrections or statements from Bandai.

Sources: Official BANDAI SPIRITS notice⁠, DEERHUNTER on X⁠ and the corrected official product page⁠.