Nintendo to Acquire Bandai Namco Singapore in Major Studio Buyout

Nintendo is set to significantly expand its first-party development capabilities with a newly announced deal to acquire Bandai Namco Singapore, a studio known for its work on major titles like Splatoon 3, Ace Combat 7, and Soul Calibur 6. The acquisition is expected to be fully completed by spring 2026 and represents one of Nintendo’s largest studio moves in recent years.

 

A Strategic Expansion Ahead of Switch 2

Bandai Namco Singapore was originally established in 2013 to strengthen the publisher’s presence in Asia. Its most notable project came in 2022 with Splatoon 3, developed in collaboration with Nintendo EPD and becoming the studio’s biggest success. The team has also contributed late-stage development work to several high-profile franchises, demonstrating strong technical and creative capabilities.

With Nintendo planning to absorb 80% of the studio’s shares on April 1, 2026, and the remaining 20% at a later date, the team will eventually operate as Nintendo Studios Singapore. While Nintendo says the acquisition will have only a minor financial impact in the short term, the long-term implications are significant—particularly as attention shifts to the upcoming Switch successor.

Games Developed by Bandai Namco Singapore

• Splatoon 3 (with Nintendo EPD)

• Soul Calibur 6

• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

• Taiko no Tatsujin: VR Festival

Nintendo’s Growing First-Party Network

Compared to Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo historically has not been aggressive in acquiring studios. However, this decade has seen an uptick in strategic purchases, including:

• Shiver Entertainment (2024), known for major porting work.

• Monolith Soft (full acquisition in 2024), developers of Xenoblade Chronicles.

• SRD (2022), a longtime Nintendo collaborator.

• Next Level Games (2021), creators of Luigi’s Mansion 3.

• Nintendo Pictures (formerly Dynamo Pictures), expanding Nintendo’s animation and mocap capabilities.

These moves indicate a shifting strategy as competition in the first-party landscape intensifies, especially following massive acquisitions like Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard and Sony’s additions of Bungie, Firewalk, and Kadokawa Corporation.

Protecting Key Franchises and Preparing for the Future

The acquisition also reflects Nintendo’s desire to secure its most valuable IP internally. Fans have often cited how Nintendo lost Rare to Microsoft in 2002 as a major turning point, especially after the renewed success of Donkey Kong titles like Donkey Kong Bananza. With Splatoon now one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises, securing its development future appears to be a clear priority.

As Nintendo Studios Singapore becomes fully integrated, it may play a critical role not just in supporting Splatoon but also in shaping the next wave of first-party titles for the Switch 2 era.