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Friday,
February 11th, 2022
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(2-13-2022)
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Bandai
Namco is Creating its own IP Metaverse with $174 Million Investment
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In
the past year, many gaming and technology companies have jumped onto the
"metaverse" bandwagon / concept — a way of connecting communities of users
with the same interests, or connecting familiar IPs in a shared virtual
space. Something like this is what Bandai Namco is setting out to
do—and they are spending an estimated 15 billion yen ($174
million dollars)
towards the project!
What this could mean for the future of TEKKEN, SoulCalibur, or
other Bandai Namco IPs could potentially reveal itself in the
next upcoming installments or spin-offs of these games. This isn't limited to fighting
games, of course, as Bandai Namco's library of IPs include series like Dark
Souls, Elden Ring, Dragon Ball, Gundam, Katamari,
Pac-Man, etc.
On
Tuesday, Bandai Namco announced the three main goals of their metaverse
project, include: (#1) connecting Bandai Namco with fans of their games,
(#2) maximizing the value of Bandai Namco IPs over the medium to long
term, and (#3) connecting each IP's
world into an interconnected universe known as the "ALL BANDAI NAMCO
Concept".
"Through the IP
Metaverse, we will establish communities among Bandai Namco and fans, as
well as among fans themselves," Bandai Namco told investors during
their mid-term plan. "Through these communities and content, we will
build deep, broad, multifaceted connections that continue for long periods
of time, and we will focus on the quality of those connections. In this way,
we will work to maximize IP value over the medium to long term."
Connecting fighting game
players within a virtual 3D environment isn't a foreign concept to
Bandai Namco —
as they
previously created social spaces based on several of their IPs for 2008's PlayStation
Home on PS3. Back in the late 2000's, Bandai Namco introduced add-on content like arcade cabinets and character statues that players could
decorate their own virtual spaces with. TEKKEN
6 players could even connect to online matches within these
social spaces, resembling arcades (or homes with arcades) within PlayStation Home.
Of course, the modern evolution of this concept can
take on an entirely new meaning in the "ALL BANDAI NAMCO Concept".
Fans of Bandai Namco games may eventually be able to connect to the
metaverse for matchmaking, sharing content, and other social activities. Judging from recent trends, Bandai Namco
could also expand this framework into
the VR universe on current-gen gaming consoles and PC.
Other gaming companies and brands who have recently jumped aboard the metaverse
train include: Epic Games, Square Enix, Disney, Facebook, and
Microsoft. Of course, how each company chooses to utilize or evolve
their own metaverse will differ greatly from one another. While some gamers
may already have "negative" opinions towards the metaverse idea in
gaming, the concept is still very much in its infancy. However, it probably
won't be very long before we begin hearing announcements from
publishers about "metaverse connectivity" with modern / next-gen
fighting games.
Considering Bandai Namco exceeded sales expectations several times over with
the console launch of TEKKEN 7, selling a record-breaking 8
million copies and becoming one of the best-selling titles of the
series... as well as SoulCalibur
VI's successful venture
into post-launch DLC and exciting guest characters, it's pretty safe to
assume the future of Namco's two flagship fighting series is in the right
direction.
A "metaverse" you say. . . Well, from the most optimistic point of
view, Bandai Namco's metaverse project could lead to some potentially great crossovers
in future fighting games. Considering the epic DLC characters
who made a memorable splash in TEKKEN 7 and SoulCalibur VI, properly
done "metaverse connectivity" could and would seem to lead a
similar level of excitement and growth. A new Bamco fighting game will still
be a new fighting game, first and foremost. The metaverse will be something
different.
Thanks for reading! We'll continue to keep you informed on Bandai Namco's
metaverse project when more information is revealed. Keep it here on The
Fighters Generation for more fighting game news
and content.
~TFG Webmaster, Frank Joseph
| @Fighters_Gen
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Sources:
AsiaOne,
IGN Related
Tweet: @Fighters_Gen
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Updating Logo
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Bandai Namco announced they will be updating to a
new logo, effective April 2022. The original Bandai Namco logo first appeared in 2005, marking the fusion of the two companies. "Our current logo expresses the fusion of Bandai and Namco that was created when the companies integrated."
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Patent May Hint at TEKKEN 8 Tutorial Mode
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TEKKEN 7 Celebrates 7 Million Copies Sold Worldwide
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In September
'20, TEKKEN 7 achieved 6 million worldwide sales. Today,
series producer Katsuhiro Harada announced TEKKEN 7 has hit 7 million sales worldwide. To celebrate the occasion, iconic TEKKEN and SoulCalibur artist Takuji Kawano has updated his commemorative illustration —
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Related TFG Links:
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