Bandai Namco Entertainment

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The history of the studio begins with the consolidation of Namco and Bandai's video game operations on March 31, 2006, forming Namco Bandai Games. Facing financial losses and a need for reorganization, the parent company decided to spin off its development divisions into a separate entity named Namco Bandai Studios Inc. This new subsidiary was established in Shinagawa, Tokyo, under the leadership of Shigeru Yokoyama. The move allowed for tighter cohesion among production teams and greater creative freedom for employees. In April 2014, following a brand unification effort by its parent company, Namco Bandai Studios Inc. was renamed Bandai Namco Studios Inc. By October 2021, the studio further expanded its scope by establishing GYAAR Studio, an indie label dedicated to releasing at least one independent game title per year, developed by teams of young staff members.

In Their Own Story

The evolution of Bandai Namco Studios is marked by significant international expansion and strategic partnerships. On March 1, 2013, the company opened two new divisions: Namco Bandai Studios Singapore Pte. Ltd., which became the head development branch in Asia, and Namco Bandai Studios Vancouver Inc. in Canada to design online network games. The Singapore division notably hired staff from the former LucasArts Singapore team who had worked on the cancelled Star Wars 1313. However, the landscape shifted again when the Vancouver division closed on November 16, 2018, though a skeleton crew remained to support Tekken Mobile. Conversely, a new Malaysia division was opened in Selangor in 2016. In July 2024, B.B. Studio became a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios before being renamed Bandai Namco Forge Digitals on March 3, 2025. Looking ahead to November 2025, the company announced it would sell 80% of its Singapore division to Nintendo.

Reader's Guide

Bandai Namco Studios is renowned for its work on major franchises including Tekken, Pac-Man, The Idolmaster, Ace Combat, Tales, and Soulcalibur. Beyond established series, the studio has created original intellectual properties such as Code Vein and Scarlet Nexus. A significant portion of their output involves collaboration with Nintendo; they developed Wii Sports Club, the Super Smash Bros. series starting with the fourth installment, Kirby Air Riders, and Pokémon spin-offs like Pokkén Tournament and New Pokémon Snap. In November 2023, the studio revealed two dedicated teams for commissioned projects: Studio S, which has supported the Mario Kart series since 2014 as well as Arms, and Studio 2, which led development on Super Smash Bros. beginning with the fourth installment. The company also maintains a strong commitment to preservation through its 'Banarchive,' storing 400 master arts from games like Xevious and Ridge Racer.

Did You Know?

• Bandai Namco Studios absorbed some staff members from the defunct Namco Tales Studio division upon its founding in 2012, though the exact number of 80 employees is not officially confirmed as a complete absorption of all
• The company's 'Banarchive' internal department stores a collection of master arts, though claims of exactly 400 pieces or losses during a move to Kōtō in 2015 remain unverified by official sources.
• Claims that Studio S has been supporting the Mario Kart series since 2014, or that Studio 2 led development on Super Smash Bros. starting with the fourth installment, are not part of widely-known official canon.