Bandai Namco Making Big Change to Its Online Operation

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Bandai Namco Making Big Change to Its Online Operation

Key Takeaways

  • Bandai Namco Entertainment and Bandai Namco Online will merge in April 2025.
  • The merger is in response to recent changes in the gaming industry and aims to strengthen the management system for the business’s digital side.
  • Bandai Namco Entertainment is set to release Fate/EXTRA Record, Little Nightmares 3, and Synduality: Echo of Ada in 2025.

As a long-time fan and follower of Bandai Namco, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions as I read about the upcoming merger between Bandai Namco Entertainment and Bandai Namco Online. On one hand, it’s always a bittersweet moment when we see change in the industry we love, especially when it involves the dissolution of a company that has given us so many cherished gaming experiences.

In April 2025, two subsidiaries of the Japanese entertainment powerhouse, Bandai Namco – Bandai Namco Entertainment and Bandai Namco Online – will combine forces. Following this merger, only Bandai Namco Entertainment is expected to continue operating, marking the result of the consolidation. Known for their roots in a merger between toy titan Bandai and multimedia powerhouse Namco, Bandai Namco boasts ownership of numerous popular Japanese franchises such as Dark Souls, Gundam, and The Idolmaster.

Bandai Namco Entertainment is the gaming division within the larger Bandai Namco organization. A subsidiary, Bandai Namco Online, which specializes in creating online gaming experiences, was established from Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2012 and has produced numerous games since then. However, after a series of high-profile flops, including the unfortunate demise of the MMORPG “Blue Protocol”, it’s been announced that Bandai Namco Online will soon cease operations and merge back into Bandai Namco Entertainment.

On their official website on November 20th, it was revealed that Bandai Namco Online would merge with Bandai Namco Entertainment on April 1st, 2025. This move is intended to adapt to current trends in the gaming industry and enhance the management structure for the digital sector of the business. Games like the popular mobile rhythm game “Idolish7” and the browser-based RPG “SD Gundam Operations”, currently managed by Bandai Namco Online, will continue to be operated by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Additionally, the new entity will assume all customer contracts and obligations from its sister company, as stated in the merger announcement.

Bandai Namco Entertainment to Absorb Bandai Namco Online in April 2025

Bandai Namco Online was responsible for creating “Gundam Evolution,” a free-to-play team shooter that ceased operations in November 2023. Despite attracting around 57,000 simultaneous players on Steam at its peak, as reported by SteamDB, the game struggled to keep a steady player base over time. On OpenCritic, where “Gundam Evolution” has an average rating of 72, critics applauded its engaging gameplay mechanics but also expressed concerns about its slow advancement system.

Bandai Namco Online is set to disband, following reports in October that suggested the company had begun reducing its workforce and halting projects due to a decline in consumer interest. As of 2024, over 14,000 employees in the video game industry have been let go, according to a running total compiled by journalist Mike Straw.

This year, under the banner of Bandai Namco, we’ve seen the launches of games like “Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero”, “Gundam Breaker 4”, and “Tekken 8”. In 2025, Bandai Namco Entertainment plans to release titles such as “Fate/EXTRA Record”, “Little Nightmares 3”, and “Synduality: Echo of Ada”.

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2024-11-21 18:13