Nintendo has announced its intent to acquire the Bandai Namco Studios Singapore development team, a move that will see the studio rebranded as Nintendo Studios Singapore.
This acquisition marks a significant expansion for Nintendo’s global development footprint.
Key Takeaways
- Nintendo is acquiring Bandai Namco Studios Singapore.
- The studio will be renamed Nintendo Studios Singapore.
- The team has supported major titles like Ace Combat 7 and SoulCalibur 6.
- This acquisition signals Nintendo’s commitment to bolstering its internal development capabilities.
Strategic Expansion in Asia
Founded 12 years ago in 2013, the Singapore-based studio has primarily operated as a support developer. Their contributions include work on critically acclaimed titles such as Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown and SoulCalibur 6. While not directly developing console exclusives for Nintendo previously, their experience with major third-party projects indicates a strong technical foundation.
Why This Matters
This acquisition is more than just adding headcount; it’s a strategic play by Nintendo to deepen its development talent pool and potentially accelerate its output of new games. While Nintendo is known for its first-party studios, increasingly complex game development cycles and the desire to compete with the high-fidelity experiences offered by competitors like Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox necessitate robust, in-house capabilities. Establishing a presence in Singapore also offers access to a vibrant and growing tech hub in Southeast Asia.
The renaming to Nintendo Studios Singapore suggests a full integration into Nintendo’s development structure, potentially working on first-party titles for current and future Nintendo platforms. This could lead to more diverse and possibly graphically ambitious games from the company, complementing their established strengths in gameplay innovation and unique IP.
This article was based on reporting from Push Square. A huge shoutout to their team for the original coverage.
Read the full story at Push Square