TweakTown reported that Bandai Namco executives said the company will scale back the number of games it develops to focus on popular IPs and improve the quality of its products.
“In order to improve the quality of games in development, we will further strengthen our review system through a committee of senior producers. In order to steadily develop high-quality games, we will reduce the number of games more than ever while improving their quality. We will make more solid investments in the necessary games based on market levels and fan expectations.”
In addition, Bandai Namco provided more details about its upcoming NFT and metaverse plans and confirmed that the first metaverse will be set in the Gundam franchise.
The first metaverse will be based on the Gundam IP. It is called Side-G, a galaxy with multiple “colonies” for different activities and content; one will be used for eSports, another for Gundam-related products, and one for games.
Bandai told investors that its meta-universe and the incoming NFTs incorporated into it are not intended for speculative purposes.
“Ultimately by connecting the multiple colonies that have been launched, we will build a strong connection with our fans. We will become NFT and the introduction of new technologies like blockchain is not for speculation but for fans and we will consider the need for connectivity. [Our goal is to] connect with fans and expand the community. I want to create a world where fans can connect,” Bandai Namco executives said during a question-and-answer session on the first-quarter earnings call.
"Using the IP axis, Bandai Namco will develop a mettaverse for each IP as a new framework for connecting with fans. Within this IP mettaverse, we anticipate that the virtual space will enable customers to enjoy a wide range of entertainment on the IP axis as well as take advantage of Bandai Namco's unique strengths in blending physical products and venues with digital elements. "Our goal is to create an open framework that provides a venue for connections between fans and business partners. Through IP Metaverse, we will build communities between Bandai Namco and fans, as well as among fans. "Through these communities and content, we will build deep, broad, multifaceted connections that will continue over time, and we will focus on the quality of these connections."
