Examine individual changes

'{{Redirect|Bandai Namco|the parent company|Bandai Namco Holdings|the PAL-region distributor|Bandai Namco Partners}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox company |name = Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. |native_name = 株式会社バンダイナムコエンターテインメント |native_name_lang = jp |romanized_name = Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Entāteinmento |former_name = Nakamura Seisakusho <small>(1955–1959)</small><br>Nakamura Manufacturing <small>(1959–1977)</small><br>Namco Limited<small><br>(1977–2006)</small><br>Namco Bandai Games <small><br>(2006–2014)</small><br>Bandai Namco Games <small><br>(2014–2015)</small> |logo = BANDAI NAMCO logo.svg |logo_caption = Corporate logo since 2006. |image = Sumitomo-rd Mita Build. IMG 3594r 20160116.JPG |image_caption = Headquarter building in Mintao-ku, Tokyo. |type = [[Kabushiki gaisha]]<br>[[Subsidiary]] |founders = [[Masaya Nakamura (businessman)|Masaya Nakamura]] |foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1955|06|01}} <ref>https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/english/overview/</ref> |location = [[Minato-ku, Tokyo]], [[Japan]] |area_served = Worldwide |key_people = Satoshi Oshita {{small|(President and CEO)}} |predecessor = [[Namco]], [[Bandai]] |industry = [[Video game industry]]<br>[[Anime]]<br>[[Film industry|Motion pictures]] |products = [[List of Bandai Namco video games]] |num_employees = '''Bandai Namco Entertainment'''<br> 710 (as of April 2018)<br>'''Bandai Namco Studios'''<br>1066 (as of April 2018)<ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=https://www.bandainamcostudios.com/company/|publisher=Bandai Namco Studios|accessdate=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819061613/https://www.bandainamcostudios.com/company/|archive-date=2017-08-19|url-status=live}}</ref><br>'''Bandai Namco Online'''<br>139 (as of July 2019)<br>'''Bandai Namco Network Services'''<br>48 (as April 2019) |parent = [[Bandai Namco Holdings]] |subsid = [[B.B. Studio]]<br>BXD Inc<br>[[D3 Publisher]]<br>Vibe Inc |homepage = {{url|http://bandainamcoent.com}} }} {{nihongo foot|'''Bandai Namco Entertainment, Inc.'''|株式会社バンダイナムコエンターテインメント|Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Entāteinmento|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} (stylized as '''BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment''') is a Japanese [[multinational corporation|multinational]] video game developer and publisher, headquartered in [[Minato-ku, Tokyo]]. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Entertainment America and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, are respectively headquartered in [[Santa Clara, California]] and [[Lyon, France]]. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Bandai Namco Holdings]]. Bandai Namco Entertainment was formed on March 31, 2006, following a corporate merge between [[Namco]] and [[Bandai]] on September 29 of the previous year. Originally known as Namco Bandai Games, they merged both Bandai Games and Namco Networks in January to create a North America division, Namco Bandai Games America. Namco Bandai Games absorbed [[Banpresto]]'s video game division in 2008, and dissolving Bandai Networks in 2009. Development operations were spun-off into a new company in 2012, Namco Bandai Studios, to help create faster development time and tighter cohesion between development teams. The company was renamed to Bandai Namco Games in 2014 and Bandai Namco Entertainment, their current name, in 2015. Bandai Namco Entertainment produces [[List of best-selling video game franchises|several multi-million-selling video game franchises]], including ''[[Tekken]]'', ''[[List of Pac-Man video games|Pac-Man]]'', ''[[Galaxian]]'', ''[[Gundam]]'', ''[[Tales (video game series)|Tales]]'', ''[[Soulcalibur]]'', ''[[Ace Combat]]'' and ''[[Taiko no Tatsujin]]'', and is the third largest video game publisher in Japan by revenue and the seventh in the world. The company also owns the licenses to several Japanese media franchises such as ''[[Dragon Ball]]'', ''[[One Piece]]'' and ''[[Naruto]]''. It is the core development area of the [[Bandai Namco Group]]'s "Content [[strategic business unit|Strategic Business Unit]] (Content SBU),<ref>{{cite web|title=Strategic Business Units|url=http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/group/index.html|publisher=Bandai Namco|accessdate=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430153728/http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/group/index.html|archive-date=2014-04-30|url-status=live}}</ref> and the main video game branch of Bandai Namco Holdings. ==History== [[File:NBGI_Headquarters.JPG|thumb|Bandai Namco's former headquarters]] In February 2005, in the wake of their 50th anniversary, [[Namco]] announced their intent to merge with [[Bandai]] to form [[Bandai Namco Holdings]]. The merge was finalized on September 25, creating the third-largest video game publisher in Japan by revenue.<ref>{{cite web|last=Feldman|first=Curt|title=Bandai, Namco to merge|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bandai-namco-to-merge/1100-6123385/|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408161928/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bandai-namco-to-merge/1100-6123385/|archive-date=2014-04-08|url-status=live}}</ref> Bandai purchased Namco for US$1.7 billion, with Namco receiving 43% of shares and Bandai receiving the other 57%. Both companies in a joint statement cited Japan's decreasing birth rates and advancements in technology as the reason for the merge, and to increase their relevance to newer audiences. Both companies worked independently under the newly formed Bandai Namco Holdings until March 31, 2006, when their video game operations were merged to form Namco Bandai Games.<ref>{{cite web|title=株式会社バンダイナムコホールディングス 2005年度事業報告書|url=http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/ir/library/pdf/communication/2006_report.pdf |publisher=[[Namco Bandai Holdings]] |date=2006 |accessdate=6 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905032336/http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/ir/library/pdf/communication/2006_report.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-05|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Karlin|first=David|title=Bandai and Namco Finalize Merger Details|url=http://www.1up.com/news/bandai-namco-finalize-merger-details|publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312025357/http://www.1up.com/news/bandai-namco-finalize-merger-details|archive-date=2014-03-12|url-status=live}}</ref> Earlier on January 26, Namco Hometek and Bandai Games merged to form Namco Bandai Games America, the North American division.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=David|title=Namco, Bandai Complete North American Merger|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2006/01/04/namco-bandai-complete-north-american-merger|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/playstation-2/soul-calibur-iii/678772p1.html|title=Namco and Bandai complete merger in North America|date=4 January 2006 |publisher=GameSpy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126051543/http://www.gamespy.com/playstation-2/soul-calibur-iii/678772p1.html|archive-date=26 January 2014|url-status=live|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref> On 1 April 2008, [[Banpresto]]'s video game operations were absorbed by Namco Bandai Games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2007/11/09/banpresto-absorbed-by-namco-bandai/ |title=Banpresto absorbed by Namco Bandai |last=Spencer |date=9 November 2007 |publisher=Silicon Era |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223124708/http://www.siliconera.com/2007/11/09/banpresto-absorbed-by-namco-bandai/|archive-date=23 February 2014|url-status=live|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref> On 1 April 2009, Bandai Networks, Namco Bandai's mobile phone business, was dissolved and absorbed into Namco Bandai Games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.katanaxtreme.com/anime_news/details.aspx?id=li1vddzCy06DZUz3hzp97g |title=KatanaXtreme.com&nbsp;– Namco Bandai Games Inc. to Take Over Bandai Networks Co., Ltd. |access-date=2008-12-10 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20090123122015/http://www.katanaxtreme.com/anime_news/details.aspx?id=li1vddzCy06DZUz3hzp97g |archive-date=2009-01-23 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Just prior to the release of ''[[Afro Samurai (video game)|Afro Samurai]]'' at the end of 2008, the company announced the Surge publishing label.<ref>{{cite web|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|title=Namco Bandai Needs Westerners, Plans "Surge"|url=http://kotaku.com/5102115/namco-bandai-needs-westerners-plans-surge|publisher=Kotaku|access-date=2010-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226165628/http://kotaku.com/5102115/namco-bandai-needs-westerners-plans-surge|archive-date=2010-12-26|url-status=live}}</ref> The new label was an attempt at creating a separate identity for the company, aimed at a Western audience desiring more mature themes in game content.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sheffield|first=Brandon|title=Q&A: Namco Bandai's Iwai Talks Tricky Topics In Western Markets|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22589|publisher=Gamasutra|access-date=2010-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113020548/http://gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22589|archive-date=2010-11-13|url-status=live}}</ref> Following ''Afro'', early press materials indicated that ''[[Dead to Rights: Retribution]]'' and ''[[Splatterhouse (2010 video game)|Splatterhouse]]'' would also be released under the Surge label, but neither game ultimately did; both were released with a retro Namco label instead to reflect the series' legacy. In 2010, Namco Bandai Games entered the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the company that released the most TV commercials for the same product, a [[Nintendo DS]] game called ''[[Solatorobo: Red the Hunter]]''. They created 100 versions of the ad as the game consists of 100 chapters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Most TV commercials for the same product (8 hrs) – regional/Free-to-air|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-1/most-tv-commercials-for-the-same-product-(8-hrs)-regionalfree-to-air/|publisher=Guinness World Records|accessdate=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203040708/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-1/most-tv-commercials-for-the-same-product-(8-hrs)-regionalfree-to-air|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In early 2011, [[Namco Networks]] was absorbed into Namco Bandai Games America, effectively consolidating Namco Bandai's American console, handheld, and mobile video game development operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/namco-bandai-games-america-namco-networks-merger-now-it-s-all-just-namco-bandai-games-america|title=Namco Bandai Games America/Namco Networks merger|website=|publisher=Games Industry International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219211905/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/namco-bandai-games-america-namco-networks-merger-now-it-s-all-just-namco-bandai-games-america |archive-date=19 February 2014|url-status=live|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref> On 2 April 2012, Namco Bandai Games spun off its development operations into a new company called Namco Bandai Studios. The new company was spurred by Namco Bandai's interest in faster development times and tighter cohesion between disparate development teams. It comprises approximately 1,000 employees, who were already part of Namco Bandai.<ref name="studios">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-spins-off-internal-dev-studios-into-namco-bandai-studio/ |title=Namco spins off internal dev studios into 'Namco Bandai Studio' |last=Gilbert |first=Ben |date=10 February 2012 |website=Famitsu |publisher=Joystiq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219120128/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-spins-off-internal-dev-studios-into-namco-bandai-studio/ |archive-date=19 February 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref> In March 2013, Namco Bandai Games established two new game studios. The first, Namco Bandai Studios Singapore, is Namco Bandai's "leading development center" in Asia and develops game content for the Asia Pacific market. The second studio, Namco Bandai Studios Vancouver, works on online social games and game content development for North America and Europe, and is part of the Center for Digital Media (CDM).<ref name="vancouver">{{cite web |url=http://gematsu.com/2013/04/namco-bandai-opening-singapore-and-vancouver-studios |title=Namco Bandai opening Singapore and Vancouver studios |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=10 April 2013 |website=Gematsu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218225422/http://gematsu.com/2013/04/namco-bandai-opening-singapore-and-vancouver-studios|archive-date=18 February 2014|url-status=live|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref> In July 2013, [[Bandai Namco Partners|Namco Bandai Partners]] (NBP), which used to oversee the PAL distribution network since September 2012, merged with Namco Bandai Games Europe (NBGE) in order to push distribution and publishing into one entity, Namco Bandai Games Europe (NBGE).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.edge-online.com/news/namco-bandai-completes-merger-of-publishing-and-distribution-businesses/ |title=Namco Bandai completes merger of publishing and distribution businesses |last=Long |first=Niel |date=1 July 2013 |website=Edge Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204042803/http://www.edge-online.com/news/namco-bandai-completes-merger-of-publishing-and-distribution-businesses/|archive-date=4 February 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Namco Bandai Games and Namco Bandai Studios became Bandai Namco Games and Bandai Namco Studios, respectively. The change unified the brand internationally in order to increase the "value" and "appeal" of the name.<ref name="rename">{{cite web|last=Goldfarb|first=Andrew|title=Namco Bandai Changing Name to Bandai Namco|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/01/24/namco-bandai-changing-name-to-bandai-namco|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2 February 2014}}</ref> The full company name was changed to Bandai Namco Entertainment on 1 April 2015.<ref>2014-12-16, [http://gematsu.com/2014/12/bandai-namco-games-changing-name-bandai-namco-entertainment Bandai Namco Games changing name to Bandai Namco Entertainment], Gematsu</ref> On 1 April 2018, the amusement machine business division of Bandai Namco Entertainment was transferred over to sister company [[Namco|Bandai Namco Amusement]].<ref>https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/cgi-bin/releases/index.cgi/file/view/6091?entry_id=5509</ref><ref>[https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/english/history/ Corporate History], Bandai Namco Entertainment</ref> ==Corporate structure== Bandai Namco Entertainment was originally headquartered in [[Shinagawa, Tokyo]], moving their operations to [[Minato-ku, Tokyo]] in February 2016. The North American and European divisions respectively in [[Santa Clara, California]] as Bandai Namco Entertainment America, and in [[Lyon, France]] as Bandai Namco Entertainment America. Divisions have also been established in [[mainland China]], [[Hong Kong]] and [[Taiwan]]. [[Bandai Namco Partners]], originally known as Sega Ozisoft and later Infogrames Australia, oversees publishing of video games for Australia and New Zealand, being the country's lead distributor of games from [[Square Enix Europe]], [[NIS America]] and [[Codemasters]]. Bandai Namco Entertainment is the core development division of the Bandai Namco Group's "Content [[strategic business unit|Strategic Business Unit]]" (Content SBU), and the main video game branch of Bandai Namco Holdings. ===Software development and subsidiaries=== Bandai Namco Entertainment produces several highly successful video game franchises, including ''[[Tekken]]'', ''[[List of Pac-Man video games|Pac-Man]]'', ''[[Galaxian]]'', ''[[Gundam]]'', ''[[Tales (video game series)|Tales]]'', ''[[Soulcalibur]]'', ''[[Katamari]]'', ''[[Ace Combat]]'' and ''[[Taiko no Tatsujin]]''. The company also owns the licenses to several Japanese anime series, notably ''[[Dragon Ball]]'', ''[[One Piece]]'', ''[[Naruto]]'', ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' and ''[[My Hero Academia]]''. The core video game development studio of Bandai Namco Entertainment is Bandai Namco Studios, established in April 2012 — Bandai Namco Studios creates video games for home consoles, handheld systems and arcade hardware, while Bandai Namco Entertainment handles the managing, marketing and publishing of these products.<ref name="studios"/> Bandai Namco Studios also produces music and videos based on its properties, and has development studios in [[Canada]] and [[Singapore]].<ref name=vancouver/>Bandai Namco Online is a subsidiary responsible for online in Bandai Namco Studios games, and also develop games focusing on online. [[B.B. Studio]] was formed in April 2011 from a merge between [[Banpresto]] and Bandai Entertainment Company (BEC), handling the development of the ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' franchise and other video games based on Japanese licenses. ==See also== {{Portal|Japan|Tokyo|Companies}} * [[List of Bandai Namco video games]] * [[List of Bandai Namco video game franchises]] ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Namco Bandai}} * {{Official website}} {{Bandai Namco Holdings}} {{Pac-Man series}} {{Super Smash Bros. series}} {{Major video game companies}} [[Category:Video game companies of Japan]] [[Category:Video game development companies]] [[Category:Video game publishers]] [[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Japan]] [[Category:Media companies based in Tokyo]] [[Category:Video game companies established in 2006]] [[Category:Japanese companies established in 2006]] [[Category:Japanese brands]] [[Category:Bandai Namco Holdings subsidiaries]]'