Enthusiasts of the Mobile Police Patlabor franchise, commonly known as “Patlabor,” will be delighted to learn that the forthcoming Patlabor the Case Files action-adventure game encompasses the narrative arcs of Patlabor: The TV Series (1989), the Patlabor: The New Files OVA, Patlabor: The Movie, and Patlabor 2: The Movie (source: Dengeki Online). Beyond the Core Missions, where players assume the roles of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2 and their mechs in legendary moments, the “Alternative Missions” grant control over antagonists like the AV-X0 Type Zero Patlabor.
Producer Masanori Sato revealed that the Alternative Missions were designed to let players pilot the rebellious AV-X0 Type Zero from Patlabor: The Movie and the AFH-028 Hellhound from Patlabor 2: The Movie. While it is uncertain whether these missions feature scenarios where the antagonists prevail, the development team aimed to craft a distinctive experience exclusive to the game.
Crafted by Chime and distributed by Good Smile Company, Patlabor the Case Files is a narrative-driven 3D action title centered on reenacting seminal scenes from the series. More than 20 Labors are playable, featuring models such as the AV-98 Ingram, Type-J9 Griffon, and AV-X0 Type Zero. The game includes a Simulator Mode for honing shooting techniques and Labor Duels, though multiplayer functionality is not in the current roadmap.
Patlabor the Case Files is slated for a 2026 launch on Windows (Steam) and PlayStation 5.