Call of Duty: Mobile’s newest season is going all-in on retro-futurism, neon lights, and mechs. Season 6, titled Synthwave Showdown, is live now and brings with it a high-profile crossover with the iconic Gundam franchise. It’s a stylized mix of sci-fi nostalgia and tactical chaos, framed within CODM’s fast-paced mobile framework.
The Gundam event isn’t just cosmetic. It folds into the broader structure of the season, with themed challenges, unlocks, and limited-time gameplay elements layered into the standard rotation.
Gundam collab adds new operator skins and weapons
At the center of this crossover are three Gundam-themed operator bundles based on classic mobile suits: the RX-78-2, Unicorn Gundam, and Gundam Exia. Each bundle includes a custom operator skin, weapon blueprint, and cosmetics tied to that specific mech.
The skins reimagine standard CODM operators in full-body armor that closely mirrors their Gundam counterparts, complete with metallic textures and color schemes. They stand out visually from the existing lineup and are clearly designed to be collector bait.
On the weapons side, blueprints feature layered designs with mech-like aesthetics, matching the look of the armor sets. Functionally, they’re reskins, but they come with unique kill effects and sound design tweaks that sell the theme.
Season 6 content extends beyond cosmetics
Outside of the collab, Synthwave Showdown includes a fresh Battle Pass with both free and premium tiers. The pass adds a new SMG the CX-9 along with operator skins, calling cards, and weapon blueprints in the season’s signature neon style.
There’s also a new multiplayer map called Kurohana Metropolis, built with a sleek, night-lit aesthetic that ties directly into the season’s retro-future vibe. Tight corridors and vertical design encourage aggressive engagements, particularly in objective-based modes.
Limited-time modes and events are rotated throughout the season, with themed rewards and leaderboard events tied to both the Gundam collaboration and seasonal progression milestones.
CODM continues trend of pop culture crossovers
This isn’t the first time Call of Duty: Mobile has folded in an outside IP, but it’s one of the more visually distinctive partnerships to date. While past seasons brought in familiar characters from within the franchise or other shooter IPs, this collab reaches into anime territory, targeting a broader fan base.
It also reflects the growing trend across mobile shooters to expand beyond core gameplay with crossover-driven engagement. The goal is clear: build seasonal hype, drive monetization, and keep the meta fresh without changing the underlying mechanics.
For long-term players, Season 6 offers another round of content to grind through. For collectors, the Gundam bundles add a rare visual twist that sets this season apart from more grounded ones. Whether it’s enough to re-engage lapsed players will depend on how deep the events go and how fast the next crossover hits.
