Bandai Namco Studios Explained

Bandai Namco Studios Inc.
Native Name:株式会社バンダイナムコスタジオ
Native Name Lang:ja
Romanized Name:Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Sutajio
Former Name:Namco Bandai Studios Inc.
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Video games
Hq Location:Kōtō, Tokyo
Hq Location Country:Japan
Revenue:6.8 billion
Revenue Year:2020
Num Employees:1,219
Num Employees Year:2023[1]
Parent:Bandai Namco Entertainment

is a Japanese video game developer headquartered in Kōtō, Tokyo. Its offices in Malaysia and Singapore, Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia and Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, are based out of Selangor, Malaysia and Infinite Studios, Singapore respectively. Bandai Namco Studios is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Entertainment, which itself is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. The company works under its parent company as a keiretsu; Bandai Namco Studios creates video games for home consoles, handheld systems, mobile devices and arcade hardware, while Bandai Namco Entertainment handles the managing, marketing and publishing of these products.

Bandai Namco Studios was established in April 2012 as the spin-off company of publisher Namco Bandai Games's video game development divisions. Originally known as Namco Bandai Studios Inc., the decision was based on its parent company's restructuring efforts and need for a decrease in development times and increase in productivity. Studios absorbed over 1,000 employees from Namco Bandai Games, and 80 employees from the defunct Namco Tales Studio division. The company opened divisions in Singapore and Vancouver in 2013 to expand operations overseas; the Vancouver division later closed in 2018. Its Malaysia division was established in 2016.

Bandai Namco Studios has worked on many successful video game franchises, including Tekken, Pac-Man, The Idolmaster, Ace Combat, Tales, and Soulcalibur, in addition to original intellectual properties such as Code Vein and Scarlet Nexus. Much like Namco developed games for Nintendo as a publisher since the GameCube, the company has also developed several games for them as Bandai Namco Studios, namely the Super Smash Bros. series beginning with the fourth installment, Wii Sports Club, and spin-offs in the Pokémon franchise like Pokkén Tournament and New Pokémon Snap. The company is a strong advocate of video game preservation, preserving master arts, design documents, and other resources for its games.

History

Established on March 31, 2006, Namco Bandai Games was the amalgamation of Namco and Bandai's video game development operations being merged and consolidated into one company.[2] [3] The developer produced the majority of its video games in-house, through its subsidiaries such as Banpresto and D3 Publisher,[4] [5] or lending production to external studios. However, as the company was recovering from financial losses and was undergoing a reorganization, Namco Bandai Games believed it was necessary to spin-off its game development operations into a separate division.[6] The company requested for faster development times and healthy relations between its multiple business areas, and believed the formation of a new company would remedy this.[7] Namco Bandai's video game operations were transferred to a new subsidiary, Namco Bandai Studios Inc., on April 2, 2012.[7] [8] Located in Shinagawa, Tokyo, the company was headed by company veteran Hajime Nakatani and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Games.[9] Its parent company stated that Studios would allow for faster development times, tighter cohesion with aligning production teams, and more creative freedom and developer skills for its employees.[7] [10] Namco Bandai's consecutive financial increases in its year-over-year profits also contributed to its establishment.[11] Studios inherited 1,000 employees from Namco Bandai Games and all 80 staff members from the former Namco Tales Studio, which ceased operations a year earlier.[7] It would focus on the development of new intellectual properties and follow-ups to established franchises, such as Tekken, Pac-Man, and Ace Combat.[7] [10] [12] The two companies would work in conjunction with one another as a keiretsu, where Namco Bandai Studios would develop and plan games and Namco Bandai Games would handle marketing, publishing, and distribution.[13]

Namco Bandai Studios opened two international divisions on March 1, 2013: Namco Bandai Studios Singapore Pte. Ltd. in Media Circle, Singapore, and Namco Bandai Studios Vancouver Inc. in Vancouver, Canada.[14] The Singapore division was assigned as Namco Bandai's head video game development branch in Asia, and to establish working relationships with fellow developers in the region.[14] The Vancouver division was to design online network games and provide content for North America and Europe, while simultaneously focusing on contributing to the country's growing game industry.[14] Namco Bandai Studios Singapore employed several staff members from the Singapore division of Lucasarts, who had previously worked on the cancelled Star Wars 1313. Its Japanese division established a working relationship with Nintendo with Wii Sports Club, a high-definition remaster of the original Wii Sports (2006) for the Wii U; several Nintendo games to follow were developed by Bandai Namco Studios, including Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014), Pokkén Tournament (2015), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) and New Pokémon Snap (2021).[15]

On April 1, 2014, Namco Bandai Studios was renamed Bandai Namco Studios Inc., following an effort by its parent company to unify the Bandai Namco brand across its international divisions.[16] The company began development on virtual reality arcade games the same month, which were designed for Bandai Namco Entertainment's VR Zone chain of video arcades. In 2016, Bandai Namco Studios released Summer Lesson, a virtual reality game designed for the PlayStation VR headset. The Vancouver division closed on November 16, 2018, though a "skeleton crew" was kept to support Tekken Mobile, and opened a Malaysia division in 2016.[17] Bandai Namco Studios won the "Grand Prize" award at the Japan Game Awards for its work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as well as the "Japan Game Awards 2019 Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" from the organization.[18] Bandai Namco Research Inc was established in 2019 with some of the research and development departments of Bandai Namco Studios being transferred to this complete new company[19]

In October 2021, Bandai Namco Studios announced the establishment of the indie label GYAAR Studio within the studio. They plan to release at least one independent game title per year, where each title will be developed by a team of creators from among the studio's young staff. Their first game Survival Quiz City will be published by Phoenixx.[20]

On November 14, 2023, Bandai Namco Studios revealed for the first time that they now have two dedicated teams called Studio 2 and Studio S for commissioned projects for other publishers, with Nintendo being the main contributor for the past works and likely for future works. The works of the team on Studio 2 have been support for Mario Kart series since 2014 and Arms, while Studio S have been mainly involved in the Super Smash Bros. series since the 4th installment as the lead development studio.[21]

Staff and design philosophy

Bandai Namco Studios identifies itself as the successor to Namco, focusing on its predecessor's design philosophies and corporate environment.[22] The company emphasizes creating unique and immersive experiences in games, and is against copying ideas from other developers. Many of its employees were originally employed at Namco:[22]

Bandai Namco Studios is a strong advocate of video game preservation.[27] In particular, it sees the master art used for supplementary material in games, such as Galaxian (1979) and Pac-Man (1980), as being of historical importance; the company believes preserving these master arts allows for further appreciation of its predecessor's games as well as the arts themselves.[27] Studios has amassed a collection of 400 master arts, including those from Xevious (1983), Ridge Racer (1993), and J-League Soccer Prime Goal (1993),[28] which it stores in an internal department named the "Banarchive".[29] Many of its pieces were originally deemed lost during its move to Kōtō in 2015, though most have since been recovered. Bandai Namco Studios hopes to easily share its master arts to the public in the form of YouTube retrospective videos and a virtual reality museum through its Namco Museum of Art project.[22] [30]

In addition to its master arts, Bandai Namco Studios has also preserved promotional pamphlets, source code, master models for characters, design documentation, and release dates for all video games by Namco, Bandai, and Banpresto.[22] Other divisions within Bandai Namco Holdings and external companies have used these arts for products such as apparel and posters.[31] Hisaharu Tago, the producer of the Nintendo Switch release of Namco Museum, hopes the company will be able to bring the entirety of Namco's back catalog for modern gaming platforms.[32]

Development organization

Bandai Namco Studios currently have six internal divisions in Japan dedicated to development under the company, who has shared the organization of its divisions as in 2023, being organized as the following:[21]

Games

Year! scope="col"
TitlePlatformPublisher
2013Tales of Hearts RPlayStation VitaNamco Bandai Games[38]
Wii Sports ClubWii UNintendo[39]
Drift SpiritsiOSNamco Bandai Games[40]
The Idolmaster Million Live!Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows
2014Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii UNintendo 3DS, Wii UNintendo[41]
The Idolmaster One For AllPlayStation 3Namco Bandai Games
2015Tekken 7Arcade, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneBandai Namco Entertainment[42]
Pac-Man 256iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Galaga: Tekken 20th Anniversary EditionAndroid, iOS[43]
The Idolmaster Must SongsPlayStation Vita
Tales of ZestiriaMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4[44]
Pac-Man BounceAndroid, iOS
Lost ReaversWii U
Pokkén TournamentArcade, Nintendo Switch, Wii UBandai Namco Entertainment
The Pokémon Company
[45] [46]
2016Tales of BerseriaMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4Bandai Namco Entertainment[47]
The Idolmaster Platinum StarsPlayStation 4
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One[48]
Tap My KatamariAndroid, iOS[49]
Arcade Game SeriesMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One[50]
Summer LessonPlayStation 4[51]
2017Namco MuseumNintendo Switch[52]
Naruto x Boruto Ninja VoltageAndroid, iOS[53]
Mario Sports SuperstarsNintendo 3DSNintendo
Mario Kart Arcade GP VRArcadeBandai Namco Entertainment[54]
The Idolmaster Million Live Theater DaysAndroid, iOS
The Idolmaster Stella StagePlayStation 4
Tales of the RaysAndroid, iOS
2018Go VacationNintendo Switch[55]
Soulcalibur VIMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One[56]
IchimōdajinMosquito Patchin DaisakusenArcadeBandai Namco Amusement[57]
Pac-In-TownArcade
The Idolmaster Shiny ColorsAndroid, iOS, Microsoft Windows
Tekken MobileAndroid, iOSBandai Namco Entertainment
Galaga FeverArcadeBandai Namco Amusement[58]
Nintendo SwitchBandai Namco Entertainment[59]
Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum SessionPlayStation 4[60]
Super Smash Bros. UltimateNintendo SwitchNintendo
God Eater 3Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
2019Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneBandai Namco Entertainment[61]
Code VeinMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One[62]
2020Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ONPlayStation 4[63]
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure PackNintendo Switch
2021New Pokémon SnapThe Pokémon Company
Nintendo
Survival Quiz CityMicrosoft WindowsPhoenixx
The Idolmaster SideM Growing StarsAndroid, iOSBandai Namco Entertainment
Scarlet NexusMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S[64]
Tales of AriseMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
2022GoonectMicrosoft WindowsPhoenixx
2023Hook and KaijuMicrosoft Windows
EndraysMicrosoft Windows
ExcycleMicrosoft Windows
Shigeru PlanetMicrosoft Windows
Blue ProtocolMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S[65] [66] [67]
2024Tekken 8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Company Overview | Bandai Namco Studios Inc . 6 February 2023 .
  2. Web site: Niizumi . Hirohiko . Bandai and Namco outline postmerger strategy . . . July 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200724231428/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bandai-and-namco-outline-postmerger-strategy/1100-6133113/ . July 24, 2020 . September 13, 2005.
  3. Web site: Karlin. David. Bandai and Namco Finalize Merger Details. 1UP.com. March 31, 2006 . February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140312025357/http://www.1up.com/news/bandai-namco-finalize-merger-details . March 12, 2014 . live.
  4. Web site: Gantayat . Anoop . Sayonara, Banpresto . . August 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071209190744/http://uk.games.ign.com/articles/833/833693p1.html . December 9, 2007 . dead . November 8, 2007.
  5. Web site: AJ . Glasser . By The Way, Namco Bandai Owns (Most Of) D3 . . 18 March 2009 . . December 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042648/https://kotaku.com/by-the-way-namco-bandai-owns-most-of-d3-5172623 . March 6, 2019 . live .
  6. Web site: Bandai Namco Annual Report 2012 . . September 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923000547/https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/cgi-bin/releases/index.cgi/file/view/8068?entry_id=5740 . September 23, 2020 . March 31, 2012.
  7. Web site: Gantayat . Anoop . Namco Bandai Forms New Development Company: Namco Bandai Studio . Andriasang . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120716011306/https://andriasang.com/comzxi/namco_bandai_studio/ . July 16, 2012 . February 10, 2012.
  8. Web site: バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . www.bandainamcostudios.co.jp . Namco Bandai Studios . September 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121030111714/https://www.bandainamcostudios.co.jp/ . October 30, 2012 . ja.
  9. Web site: Romano . Sal . Namco Bandai forms new studio . Gematsu . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191217005528/https://www.gematsu.com/2012/02/namco-bandai-forms-new-studio . December 17, 2019 . February 10, 2012.
  10. Web site: Gilbert . Ben . Namco spins off internal dev studios into 'Namco Bandai Studio' . . . 3 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200801040726/https://www.engadget.com/2012-02-10-namco-spins-off-internal-dev-studios-into-namco-bandai-studio.html . August 1, 2020 . February 10, 2012.
  11. Web site: Pearson . Dan . Namco Bandai games sales at ¥28bn for half year . . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207005246/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-11-02-namco-bandai-games-sales-at-28bn-for-half-year . December 7, 2014 . November 2, 2011.
  12. Web site: Tolentino . Josh . Namco Bandai is founding a 1000-person dev studio . . . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200903064014/https://www.destructoid.com/stories/namco-bandai-is-founding-a-1000-person-dev-studio-221479.phtml . September 3, 2020 . February 10, 2012.
  13. Web site: Company Profile . www.bandainamcostudios.com . Bandai Namco Studios . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200710040711/https://www.bandainamcostudios.com/en/company/ . July 10, 2020.
  14. Web site: Romano . Sal . Namco Bandai opening Singapore and Vancouver studios . Gematsu . September 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200818002416/https://www.gematsu.com/2013/04/namco-bandai-opening-singapore-and-vancouver-studios . August 18, 2020 . April 10, 2013.
  15. Web site: Craddock. Ryan. 11 November 2019. Turns Out Bandai Namco Helped To Develop Mario Kart Tour. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621191038/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/turns_out_bandai_namco_helped_to_develop_mario_kart_tour. 21 June 2020. 26 June 2020. Nintendo Life. Gamer Network.
  16. Web site: Romano . Sal . Namco Bandai changing name to Bandai Namco . Gematsu . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128224640/https://www.gematsu.com/2014/01/namco-bandai-changing-name-bandai-namco . November 28, 2020 . January 24, 2014.
  17. Web site: About The Company . www.bandainamcostudios.my . Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210205082144/https://www.bandainamcostudios.my/about-the-company/ . February 5, 2021.
  18. Web site: 『日本ゲーム大賞2019 年間作品部門』で『大賞』を受賞しました! . www.bandainamcostudios.com . Bandai Namco Studios . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921081749/https://www.bandainamcostudios.com/news/148 . September 21, 2020 . ja . 2019.
  19. Web site: Bandai Namco Research Inc. . 2023-11-14 . www.bandainamco-mirai.com . en-US.
  20. Web site: GYAAR Studio WEB . 2023-11-14 . GYAAR Studio WEB . en.
  21. Web site: 2023-11-09 . 会社組織 バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . 2023-11-14 . バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . ja.
  22. Furuya . Yoichi . 『ギャラクシアン』や『ワルキューレ』など、ナムコ往年の名作キービジュアルはこうして救われた。バンダイナムコスタジオによるアーカイブの取り組みを聞く . . . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210202135409/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202012/24211500.html . February 2, 2021 . ja . December 24, 2020.
  23. Web site: Macdonald . Christopher . Budokai 3 Event at Metreon . . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190506050532/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-08-07/budokai-3-event-at-metreon . May 6, 2019 . August 7, 2004.
  24. Web site: Namco Bandai Games . Galaga - 30th Anniversary Developer Interview . Galaga WEB . https://web.archive.org/web/20190606111333/http://shmuplations.com/galaga/ . June 6, 2019 . 2011 . July 13, 2019. Namco Bandai Games .
  25. Web site: Tran . Edmond . Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Goes Back To Its Roots . . . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111201015/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ace-combat-7-skies-unknown-goes-back-to-its-roots/1100-6447272/ . November 11, 2020 . January 26, 2017.
  26. Web site: Murakami . Munjo . 「ナムコ遺伝子」を継ぐ者が大集結! 30年前の受付ロボ復活劇 . ITMedia . ITMedia . July 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191228223945/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/lifestyle/articles/1603/04/news005.html . December 28, 2019 . ja . March 4, 2016.
  27. Web site: ゲームのキービジュアルを"読み解く"ことで再発見される価値。バンダイナムコスタジオによる制作のなかで生まれた資産の発掘と保存【CEDEC 2020】 . . September 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200922203245/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/42b803c5725376b7c3bc862e73276e02c3c9b93a . September 22, 2020 . ja . September 2, 2020.
  28. Web site: Yasuda . Toshiaki . 行方不明のキービジュアル原画を救え! バンナム社員が立ち上がった"ゲームの顔"の発掘と保存 . Game Watch . Impress Group . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112042631/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1274661.html . November 12, 2020 . ja . September 2, 2020.
  29. Web site: Murata . Sejiro . 『ギャラクシアン』や『ワルキューレ』など、ナムコ往年の名作キービジュアルはこうして救われた。バンダイナムコスタジオによるアーカイブの取り組みを聞く . . . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201224111624/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/9bb7300255405fc2df07919fc9382695da533359 . December 24, 2020 . ja . December 24, 2020.
  30. Web site: Nagaoka . Yori . Android/iOS用地理情報ゲーム「PAC-MAN GEO」配信! 「パックマン」生誕40周年を記念した様々な企画が展開中 . Game Watch . Impress Group . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201120005801/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1283441.html . November 20, 2020 . ja . October 6, 2020.
  31. Murata . Seijiro . ゲームのキービジュアルを"読み解く"ことで再発見される価値。バンダイナムコスタジオによる制作のなかで生まれた資産の発掘と保存【CEDEC 2020】 . . . February 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201102065047/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202009/02205111.html . November 2, 2020 . ja . September 2, 2020.
  32. Web site: Parish . Jeremy . Inside the return of Namco Museum . Retronauts . September 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181002045238/https://retronauts.com/article/971/inside-the-return-of-namco-museum . October 2, 2018 . September 27, 2018.
  33. Web site: 2023-11-27 . 組織紹介/第1スタジオ バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . 2023-12-07 . バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . ja.
  34. Web site: Studio 2/Studio S バンダイナムコスタジオ . 2023-11-14 . Studio 2/Studio S バンダイナムコスタジオ . ja.
  35. Web site: 2023-11-09 . 組織紹介/第3スタジオ バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . 2023-11-14 . バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . ja.
  36. Web site: 2023-11-22 . 組織紹介/開発強化スタジオ バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . 2023-12-07 . バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . ja.
  37. Web site: 2023-11-22 . 組織紹介/開発強化スタジオ バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . 2023-12-20 . バンダイナムコスタジオ公式サイト . ja.
  38. 『テイルズ オブ ハーツ R』開発陣が語る"再構築"へのコダワリ【開発者インタビュー】. Famitsu. Enterbrain, Inc.. Japanese. November 30, 2012. August 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140410004850/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201211/30025084.html. April 10, 2014. live.
  39. Web site: Kyle MacGregor Burleson . Wii Sports Club co-developed with Namco Bandai . . . 4 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200904022401/https://www.destructoid.com/stories/wii-sports-club-co-developed-with-namco-bandai-264484.phtml . September 4, 2020 . October 29, 2013.
  40. Web site: Bandai Namco Studios And Roadhouse Interactive Announce Mobile Game Development Partnership . . . September 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150609235659/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/231654/BANDAI_NAMCO_STUDIOS_AND_ROADHOUSE_INTERACTIVE_ANNOUNCEMOBILE_GAME_DEVELOPMENT_PARTNERSHIP.php . June 9, 2015 . December 5, 2014.
  41. Web site: Drake . Audrey . Namco Bandai Developing Next Smash Bros. . . 23 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200516195535/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/22/namco-bandai-developing-next-smash-bros . 16 May 2020 . 21 June 2012.
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