SD Gundam Battle Alliance will have different features based on the platform
Bandai Namco will release SD Gundam Battle Alliance on multiple platforms. While the company has been releasing Gundam games on PlayStation consoles, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, Battle Alliance will be the first Gundam game to be released on Xbox consoles and the Microsoft storefront since the 2008 Xbox 360 title Gundam: Operation Troy.
All versions will have the same playable content, such as the numerous pilots and Mobile Suits revealed in three batches to date and the post-release DLC additions. But they will have some differences in other aspects, such as music and multiplayer access.
We have compiled all the important platform version differences from the Japanese official website, and you can read them right after the jump. SD Gundam Battle Alliance will be available simultaneously worldwide on August 25.
Resolution and Frame Rate
The PS5 and Xbox Series X are the two consoles that will offer the best resolution at 4K (3840x2160) and a stable frame rate of 60 fps. The PS4 and Xbox One generally only have 1080p (1920x1080), although the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X can go up to 4K. But even the enhanced last-gen console versions will have their frame rates fixed to 30 fps. The Xbox Series S sits somewhere in the middle, as it can support 1440p (2560x1440) with a variable frame rate that can go up to 60 fps.
As for the PC version, the maximum supported resolution and frame rate will depend on the PC's specs. However, Bandai Namco promises that the game can run at stable 60 fps with the following recommended specs:
- CPU/Processor: Intel Core i5-10600K
- GPU/Graphics Card: GeForce RTX 2080 8 GB
- RAM/Memory: 16 GB
The Nintendo Switch is at the bottom of this list. It will only support 720p when docked to TV and 540p undocked. It also has a variable frame rate that only goes up to 30 fps.
Multiplayer Co-Op
The multiplayer feature generally works the same on all platforms. The game supports up to 3 people playing from different consoles, but there will be no offline split co-op.
Cross-platform multiplayer is only supported between consoles in the same family. This means PS4 players can connect with PS5 users, while Xbox One players can play with those on Xbox Series X|S. The Windows PC version on Microsoft Store is touted to be able to play with the Xbox players. That leaves the Switch and PC Steam users who can only play with players on the same platform.
Despite the other limitations, the Switch will have a unique feature where its players can access local co-op by connecting up to three Switch units located nearby each other.
Paid subscription is also a factor when playing online. Each console will require the respective subscription—PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live Gold, or Nintendo Switch Online—to access the online multiplayer. It is still unclear whether the Windows PC version on Microsoft Store also requires an Xbox subscription, but Steam is the one confirmed platform that should not require any paid subscription for online multiplayer. The Switch's unique local co-op feature will also let players enjoy multiplayer without the Online subscription.
Music Options
SD Gundam Battle Alliance will have a Custom Music feature, but only for the PlayStation and PC Steam versions. As with Bandai Namco's other mecha games like G Generation and Super Robot Wars, the Custom Music feature will let users install their own MP3 files with the following constant rates:
- Sampling frequency (Hz): 32000, 44100, 48000
- Bit rates (kbps): 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, 320
PlayStation users will have to make sure the MP3 files are loaded into a USB storage with a folder named SDGBAMUSIC on its root directory. It also has a file size limit of 1 GB. The Steam version will not have any file size restrictions, and players can also put the files inside any folder as the game will ask them to specify the folder's location.
For players on other platforms, the only option available to add more tracks to the game will be the Premium Sound & Data Pack. This paid DLC will add vocal songs from the featured anime titles and theme BGMs of other Gundam games. Unlike the custom MP3s, players will be able to choose whether to start the internally-looped songs from the beginning or middle. This DLC will also be available on the PlayStation platforms, but Bandai Namco has not stated any plans to bring it to the PC Steam version.
Bandai Namco seems to treat the Windows PC version on Microsoft Store as similar to the Xbox versions, so while it will also have the Premium Music DLC, there is no confirmation whether the Microsoft Store version will support Custom Music. If you care more about Custom Music on PC, we recommend you get the Steam version.