Nintendo Acquires Bandai Namco Studios Singapore
▼ Summary
– Nintendo will acquire an 80% stake in Bandai Namco Studios Singapore on April 1, 2026, with plans to purchase the remaining shares after operations stabilize.
– The studio will be renamed Nintendo Studios Singapore and become a Nintendo subsidiary to strengthen Nintendo’s development structure.
– BNSS has expertise in creating in-game art assets and previously contributed to Nintendo titles like the Splatoon series and Bandai Namco games such as Tekken.
– This acquisition follows Nintendo’s strategy to expand its internal development teams, similar to recent additions like Nintendo Pictures and Shiver Entertainment.
– Nintendo expects the acquisition to have only a minor financial impact on its results for the current fiscal year.
Nintendo is set to significantly bolster its development capabilities through the acquisition of a majority stake in Bandai Namco Studios Singapore. This strategic move, scheduled for completion in April 2026, will see the studio rebranded as Nintendo Studios Singapore. The agreement involves Nintendo initially purchasing 80% of the studio’s shares, with plans to acquire the remainder once operations are running smoothly under the new ownership.
The primary goal behind this acquisition is to strengthen Nintendo’s internal development structure. Bandai Namco Studios Singapore has an established track record, having contributed to high-profile Nintendo titles such as Splatoon 3, where the team handled concept art, character modeling, environment modeling, and animation. Beyond its work with Nintendo, the Singapore studio has also played a role in developing several iconic Bandai Namco franchises, including TEKKEN, ACE COMBAT, SOULCALIBUR, and Taiko no Tatsujin.
Nintendo has confirmed that the financial impact of this transaction on its current fiscal year results is expected to be minimal. This acquisition aligns with the company’s recently stated intention to expand its in-house development teams. It follows other strategic additions, such as the integration of Nintendo Pictures in 2022 and the acquisition of Shiver Entertainment earlier in 2024.
The studio, founded in March 2013 and based at Infinite Studios in Singapore, specializes in game development with a strong focus on creating in-game art assets. Following the share transfer, it will continue its operations under the Nintendo banner, reinforcing the company’s creative resources and supporting future game production.
(Source: Nintendo Life)