Sometimes the data points in two directions at the same time and it is time to process the reasons. The same day that Bandai Namco celebrates the well-deserved three million copies sold from Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero also makes it official that it will begin to tighten its belt, which implies new project cancellations and, by extension, making personnel adjustments. The second movement of this magnitude so far this year by the Japanese titan.
Go ahead, Bandai Namco is one of the great protagonists of this 2024. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion of Elden Ring has had a reception and impact that already wanted great releases and, in addition to the return of Son Goku, the launch of Tekken 8 It has worked very well. However, as Bloomberg points out, the other reality is that it’s time to reduce costs
According to the reportamong the new canceled projects were two unannounced video games based on the successful One Piece and Naruto sagas, as well as a title for Nintendo for which no details have been given. Let’s remember that not too long ago a division was created within Bandai Namco specifically for the Big N. On the other hand, these decisions involve restructuring their staff and here things get a little complicated.
Bloomberg claims that 200 of Bandai Namco Studios’ approximately 1,300 employees have been reassigned to rooms known as “oidashi beya” in which, in essence, they do nothing. A Japanese practice that generally results in resignations by the workers themselves and that, according to the sources consulted, has already led to almost 100 resignations. Logically, the Japanese company was quick to respond.
Through an official statement that can be seen in the media as Eurogamer In response to the Bloomberg report, at Bandai Namco there is no “idashi beya” nor is there pressure exerted for its workers to voluntarily resign, although they recognize that many affected people are currently waiting to be assigned to other games.
“Our decisions to discontinue games are based on thorough assessments of the situation. Some employees may have to wait a certain amount of time before being assigned their next project, but we move forward with assignments as new projects arise”
“At Bandai Namco Studios there is no practice known as ‘idashi beya’ which is designed to pressure people to leave voluntarily.”
To put ourselves in a situation, Bandai Namco will release no less than three games in the month of October alone (the next will be Unknown 9: Awakening) plus a Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival which will arrive in the middle of next month. Not too long ago we found out that Little Nightmares III It was going to 2025, but we also celebrated the return of Bleach to video games. Elements that make the company one of the driving forces of the industry.
We must trust that the intentions to be more selective with upcoming projects will result in titles and video games capable of rethinking the situation and returning those affected to their activity. In any case, 2025 will start with no less than three games scheduled for release in January: the remasters of Freedom Wars y Tales of Graces f more the shooter Synduality: Echo of Ada. It may be time to tighten the belt, but the flow of releases in the short and medium term will remain constant.
In iGamesNews | Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero: 27 amazing genius and details to make the most of the game
In iGamesNews | Anime, fighting and Arc System Works: a devastating combination
