TL;DR
- Acquisition Date: 80% shares transfer on April 1, 2026; remaining 20% at a later date
- Studio Renamed: Bandai Namco Singapore will become Nintendo Studios Singapore
- Key Games: Splatoon 3, Soul Calibur 6, Ace Combat 7, Taiko no Tatsujin: VR Festival
- Strategic Impact: Secures future development of the Splatoon franchise
- Financial Impact: Minor effect on Nintendo’s current fiscal year finances
Quick Read: Key Details
Nintendo has announced it will acquire Bandai Namco’s Singapore development studio in a two-phase deal beginning April 2026. The studio, best known for co-developing Splatoon 3 with Nintendo EPD, will be rebranded as Nintendo Studios Singapore. This acquisition marks Nintendo’s continued expansion of first-party development capabilities as it prepares for the Switch 2 era.
Acquisition Timeline and Structure
Nintendo will take control of Bandai Namco Singapore through a staggered acquisition process. According to the official press release, 80 percent of the studio’s shares will transfer to Nintendo on April 1, 2026. The remaining 20 percent will be acquired at an unspecified later date, allowing time for studio stabilization during the transition period.
The rebranded Nintendo Studios Singapore is expected to have only a “minor effect” on Nintendo’s finances for the current fiscal year, suggesting a relatively modest acquisition cost compared to industry mega-deals.
Bandai Namco Singapore: Studio Background and History
Founded in 2013, Bandai Namco Singapore was established to expand game development operations in the Asian market. The studio was created alongside a Vancouver-based branch intended to cover Western markets, forming part of Bandai Namco’s global development strategy.
Notable Games Developed by Bandai Namco Singapore
The studio has built an impressive portfolio across multiple franchises:
- Splatoon 3 (2022) – Co-developed with Nintendo EPD; the studio’s biggest commercial success, released exclusively for Nintendo Switch
- Soul Calibur 6 – Latest entry in the legendary fighting game series
- Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Continuation of the acclaimed flight combat franchise
- Taiko no Tatsujin: VR Festival – Virtual reality rhythm game experience
The studio’s experience spans action games, fighting titles, rhythm games, and most significantly, one of Nintendo’s flagship multiplayer franchises.
Strategic Significance for Nintendo and Splatoon Franchise
This acquisition holds particular importance for the future of the Splatoon series. Regular updates for Splatoon 3 concluded over a year ago, and securing the development team that helped bring the game to life positions Nintendo to maintain control over the franchise’s future development.
The timing coincides with the Switch 2’s anticipated market presence, suggesting Nintendo is preparing its development infrastructure for the next generation of hardware.
Protecting Key Franchises
Nintendo’s move may be influenced by historical lessons, particularly the loss of Rare to Microsoft in 2002 for $375 million—a deal Nintendo declined at the time. Rare had been instrumental in developing beloved Nintendo franchises like Donkey Kong Country. With the recent success of Donkey Kong Bonanza reminding fans of Rare’s contributions, this acquisition appears designed to prevent a similar scenario with the Splatoon franchise.
Nintendo’s Acquisition Strategy Compared to Sony and Microsoft
While Sony and Microsoft have aggressively expanded their studio portfolios in recent years, Nintendo has taken a more conservative approach to acquisitions.
Industry Comparison
Sony’s Expansion:
- Operates more than 20 first-party development studios
- Acquired Bungie and Firewalk Studios in 2023
- Completed Kadokawa Corporation acquisition in 2024
Microsoft’s Growth:
- Completed $75.4 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition in 2023
- Brought Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Diablo franchises under Xbox banner
- Significantly expanded first-party development capabilities
Nintendo’s Recent Acquisitions:
- Shiver Entertainment (May 2024) – Purchased from Embracer Group; known for porting Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat 1, and Guitar Hero titles
- Monolith Soft (2024) – Full acquisition of Xenoblade Chronicles developer (Nintendo had owned 96% since 2011)
- Next Level Games – Developer of Luigi’s Mansion 3, Mario Strikers series, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, and Punch-Out (2009)
- SRD – Long-time Nintendo collaborator since the NES era
- Dynamo Pictures (2022) – Animation studio providing motion capture work, including contributions to Death Stranding 2
What This Means for Switch 2 and Future Development
The acquisition of Bandai Namco Singapore strengthens Nintendo’s first-party development capabilities as the company transitions to its next hardware generation. With the studio’s proven experience on Splatoon 3 and other major titles, Nintendo Studios Singapore could play a crucial role in developing launch titles and ongoing support for Switch 2.
The longstanding cooperative relationship between Nintendo and Bandai Namco suggests this transition should be smooth, with established workflows and communication channels already in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will Nintendo officially own Bandai Namco Singapore?
Nintendo will acquire 80% of the studio’s shares on April 1, 2026. The remaining 20% will be transferred at a later, unannounced date to allow for proper studio stabilization during the transition period.
Q: Will this affect Splatoon 3 or future Splatoon games?
While Splatoon 3’s regular updates ended over a year ago, this acquisition secures the development team for future entries in the franchise. This positions Nintendo to continue the series under its direct control, potentially with new installments for Switch 2.
Q: What will happen to employees at Bandai Namco Singapore?
The studio will be rebranded as Nintendo Studios Singapore, but specific details about employee transitions have not been disclosed. Typically, studio acquisitions of this nature retain existing staff to maintain development expertise and continuity.
Q: Does this mean more Nintendo and Bandai Namco collaborations?
Nintendo and Bandai Namco have a long history of collaboration that predates this acquisition. While the Singapore studio will become a first-party Nintendo developer, the two companies’ broader partnership can continue independently of this deal.
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