Bandai Namco is making a big change to its online operations

Two Japanese subsidiaries of Juggernaut Entertainment Bandai Namconamely Bandai Namco Entertainment and Bandai Namco Online, will merge in April 2025, with the former being the sole survivor of the upcoming merger. Born from the merger between legendary toy maker Bandai and multimedia giant Namco, Bandai Namco owns many popular Japanese franchises including Dark Souls, Gundamand idol master.

Bandai Namco Entertainment is a branch of the Bandai Namco Group that mainly manages video games. A separate company dedicated to developing online experiences, aptly named Bandai Namco Online, was spun off from Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2012 and has since released a variety of titles. However, following some major recent failures, including the complete collapse of the MMORPG Blue protocolit has been revealed that Bandai Namco Online will soon be disbanded and re-incorporated into Bandai Namco Entertainment.

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In a November 20 announcement posted on Bandai Namco Online's official website, it was announced that the company will be absorbed by Bandai Namco Entertainment on April 1, 2025. The move is apparently aimed at responding to recent changes in the gaming industry and strengthening the management system for the digital side of Active Bandai Namco's online games business, such as the long-running Rhythm Mobile game.Idol 7 and browser-based RPGs Operation SD Gundam According to the merger announcement, Bandai Namco Entertainment will continue to operate, which will also inherit all customer contracts and obligations from its sister company.

Bandai Namco Entertainment to acquire Bandai Namco Online in April 2025

Bandai Namco Online also developed the free-to-play game Gundam evolution The shooter team, which ended its service in November 2023. While the title peaked at nearly 57,000 concurrent players on Steam, it failed to maintain a healthy base of gamers long-term, according to data provided by analytics tracker SteamDB. On OpenCritic, where Gundam evolution With an average score of 72, many praised the shooter's mechanics, but also criticized its slow progression system.

The announcement of Bandai Namco Online's impending liquidation comes after Bloomberg reported in October that Bandai Namco had already begun cutting its workforce and canceling titles amid consumer demand. According to statistics made public by journalist Mike Straw, more than 14,000 people will be laid off in the video game industry in 2024.

Among the launches this year under Bandai Namco They were umbrellas Dragon Ball: Spark! Zero, Gundam Breaker 4and Tekken 8. Bandai Namco Entertainment is set to release Destiny / Additional record, Little nightmares 3and Sinduality: Pajhwok Ada In 2025

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Date of establishment

March 31, 2006

headquarters

Tokyo, Japan

parent company

Namco Bandai