Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社バンダイナムコエンターテインメント; often abbreviated BNE or BNEI) is a Japanese multinational entertainment company primarily involved in video-game publishing, network content, IP licensing, and other forms of digital and interactive entertainment. It is a core company of the Bandai Namco Group and serves as the management company for the Group’s Digital Unit. 1

The company is particularly known for franchises and intellectual properties (IPs) such as Pac-Man, Tekken, Tales, Ace Combat, Taiko no Tatsujin, Gundam, The Idolmaster, Dragon Ball games, One Piece games, and its publishing relationship with FromSoftware, including Elden Ring. 2

* The 1955 date refers to the founding of Namco’s predecessor, rather than the creation of the modern Bandai Namco Entertainment corporation. The current corporate structure emerged from the Bandai–Namco integration and subsequent reorganizations. Current company figures are as of April 1, 2026. 3

It is important to note that Bandai Namco Entertainment is not synonymous with the entire Bandai Namco Group. The broader Bandai Namco Group is a large Japanese entertainment conglomerate with businesses covering toys and hobby products, games, animation and music, amusement facilities, and other entertainment sectors.

Bandai Namco Entertainment is principally the digital-entertainment/game company within that ecosystem. It leads the Group’s Digital Unit and is responsible for global game and network-content strategies.

In simplified form:

Bandai + Namco → Bandai Namco Holdings → Bandai Namco Entertainment → games, digital content, IP and licensing

Meanwhile, other Bandai Namco companies handle areas such as toys, model kits, amusement machines, animation, music and other entertainment. This separation allows properties like Gundam to exist simultaneously as a game franchise, anime property, toy/model-kit business and amusement property, with different Bandai Namco companies participating in different parts of the ecosystem.

The modern company has two major historical roots:

Bandai

Bandai originated as a Japanese toy company. Its early history dates to 1950, when Bandai-ya was established and began selling toys. Over subsequent decades, Bandai expanded into character merchandise, toys, models, video entertainment and other businesses. One of its major successes was its relationship with Japanese pop-culture properties, eventually becoming deeply associated with franchises such as Mobile Suit Gundam. Bandai also entered the video-game business in 1974, when it acquired Atari Japan.

Namco

Namco has a different origin. Its predecessor was established in 1955, initially operating entertainment equipment and amusement businesses. It eventually became one of Japan’s most influential arcade-game companies. Namco became particularly famous during the golden age of arcades. Its most recognizable creation was PAC-MAN, released in 1980. Pac-Man became an international phenomenon and eventually one of the most recognizable characters in video-game history. Namco subsequently produced numerous influential arcade and console franchises.

The decisive event occurred in 2005. Bandai and Namco announced a management integration and established NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. in September 2005. This created the corporate group that eventually became the Bandai Namco Group.

The merger combined complementary strengths:

• Bandai: Character merchandise, toys, Gundam, anime-related businesses, licensing, character/IP development.
• Namco: Arcade games, video games, game development, interactive entertainment, Pac-Man, Tekken, Ridge Racer, Ace Combat, Tales.

The merger therefore combined character/IP power with game and interactive-entertainment expertise.

Creation of Bandai Namco Games

In March 2006, the gaming divisions of the newly formed Bandai Namco Group were consolidated into BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc. This became the principal game company of the new group, inheriting and developing a huge collection of franchises from both sides, including Pac-Man, Tekken, Soulcalibur, Ace Combat, Ridge Racer, Tales, Katamari, Taiko no Tatsujin, Gundam, Super Robot Wars, The Idolmaster, Dragon Ball, and One Piece.

The company also incorporated game businesses from other Bandai Namco companies. For example, Banpresto’s home-console and arcade-game business divisions were transferred to BANDAI NAMCO Games in 2008.

Transition to Bandai Namco Entertainment

The next major transformation occurred in April 2015, when BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc. changed its name to BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. The change reflected a strategy to expand beyond the traditional concept of a video-game publisher and become a broader entertainment company centered around its intellectual properties. The guiding principle became: “Games are the core, but IP can live everywhere.” Consequently, the company increasingly involved itself in console games, PC games, mobile games, online games, esports, digital entertainment, events, music-related entertainment, character licensing, cross-media projects, xR/VR-related entertainment, and other IP-based experiences.

Separation of Development and Publishing

In 2012, Bandai Namco separated its internal game-development division and established Bandai Namco Studios Inc. as a dedicated development company. This created a structure where:

• Bandai Namco Entertainment handles publishing, business strategy, IP, marketing, and network/business operations.
• Bandai Namco Studios handles game development and production.

This distinction means a game can be developed by Bandai Namco Studios but published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, while other games may be developed by external studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

IP-Centered Business Model

A defining characteristic of Bandai Namco Entertainment is its IP-centric business model. Rather than treating each game as an isolated product, the company builds long-term relationships between an IP and its fans. Its corporate description explicitly states that IP is at the core of its business, with games, network content, Asobi Entertainment and licensing used to deliver entertainment to fans worldwide.

For example, the Gundam IP appears across anime, model kits, toys, console games, mobile games, arcade games, events, merchandise, and licensing. Similarly, Pac-Man extends beyond the original arcade game into console games, mobile games, merchandise, licensing, animation, events, and cross-media projects.

Bandai Namco Entertainment currently describes four principal areas of business.

A. Video Games

This is the company’s most recognizable business, spanning PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo platforms, PC, and other digital platforms. Its portfolio covers many genres, including fighting, action, RPGs, racing, rhythm, simulation, adventure, and anime-based games. Major examples include Tekken, Tales, Taiko no Tatsujin, Gundam and Elden Ring.

B. Network Contents

This sector covers online and mobile-oriented entertainment. Important examples include Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle, One Piece Bounty Rush, The Idolmaster, and other mobile and PC titles. Bandai Namco uses its existing IP portfolio to create long-running online services rather than relying exclusively on traditional packaged games.

C. Asobi Entertainment

Asobi Entertainment represents efforts to create entertainment beyond conventional video games, including xR entertainment, music, live events, digital experiences, streaming, and IP-based experiences. The company’s MIRAIKEN studio was established as an xR-focused base for creating and distributing next-generation entertainment. Bandai Namco also operates ASOBI STAGE, which provides online live-streamed events and concerts associated with its IPs.

D. Licensing

Bandai Namco monetizes its IP through licensing, involving products, advertising, media, and other commercial uses. Its licensed portfolio includes properties such as Pac-Man, Tekken, Taiko no Tatsujin, Tales, The Idolmaster, and IDOLiSH7.

Fighting Games

Tekken is perhaps the company’s most important fighting-game franchise, originating under Namco and becoming one of the defining 3D fighting-game franchises. Other important fighting properties include Soulcalibur, Dragon Ball fighting games, and Gundam fighting/action titles.

Action/RPG and FromSoftware Partnership

Important franchises include Tales, Code Vein, Scarlet Nexus, Little Nightmares, and Sand Land. The company’s relationship with FromSoftware is particularly significant. Bandai Namco publishes Elden Ring internationally, while FromSoftware remains the developer and Japanese publisher. In 2022, Elden Ring surpassed 12 million units worldwide shortly after release. The partnership continued with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, which sold more than 5 million units worldwide within three days of its release in June 2024.

Racing

Namco’s racing heritage produced franchises such as Ridge Racer and Ace Combat. Ace Combat combines flight combat with arcade-style action and has become one of Bandai Namco’s major original game series.

Rhythm Games

Taiko no Tatsujin is one of Bandai Namco’s most recognizable rhythm-game franchises. Its distinctive concept—players physically or virtually playing Japanese taiko drums—has allowed the series to expand across arcades, consoles and other platforms.

Anime and Manga-Based Games

The company has produced or published games based on major Japanese IPs including Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, Gundam, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Sword Art Online, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. This connects directly to Bandai Namco’s broader experience with anime, toys and character merchandising.

Specific IP Highlights

• Gundam: A perfect example of the “IP axis” strategy, generating revenue through anime, games, model kits, toys, collectibles, events, licensing, and amusement. The broader Bandai Namco Group has reported enormous cumulative sales of Gundam plastic models.
• Dragon Ball: Includes titles like Dragon Ball Xenoverse, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle reached hundreds of millions of downloads.
• The Idolmaster: A distinctive original IP that developed into a broad multimedia ecosystem involving games, music, virtual/idol characters, live concerts, merchandise, events, anime, and mobile games.

Although Bandai Namco is Japanese in origin, its entertainment business is highly international. It operates regional businesses and publishing operations covering markets including Japan, North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and China. The company has established or expanded regional operations over time, including operations in China and Europe. Its strategy is increasingly global: Japanese IP can be developed domestically while being marketed and distributed internationally.

As of April 1, 2026, Bandai Namco Entertainment’s president and CEO is Nao Udagawa, who is also identified as the company’s Chief PAC-MAN Officer. The headquarters is located at the Bandai Namco Mirai-Kenkyusho in Shiba, Minato, Tokyo.

Important Milestones

Bandai Namco’s current purpose is “Fun for All into the Future.” The company describes its purpose as sharing dreams, fun and inspiration with people around the world and connecting people and societies through entertainment. Its strategic vision emphasizes “Connect with Fans,” representing a shift from asking “What game should we sell?” toward “How can we maintain a long-term relationship between an IP and its fans?”

Bandai Namco occupies an unusual position in the global games industry, combining three historically powerful traditions:

1. Japanese arcade culture: Inherited largely from Namco (Pac-Man, Galaga, Ridge Racer, Tekken, Soulcalibur, Taiko no Tatsujin).
2. Japanese character/IP culture: Strongly associated with Bandai (Gundam, Dragon Ball, anime/manga characters, toys, merchandise, licensing).
3. Modern global game publishing: Operating as a major international publisher, partnering with developers and distributing games worldwide.

Bandai Namco’s biggest competitive advantage is arguably its IP ecosystem. While a typical publisher might follow a linear path of Game → Sequel, Bandai Namco builds a cycle of IP → game → anime → mobile game → merchandise → music → event → licensing → another game → community. That model can keep an IP commercially relevant for decades. Pac-Man, for example, originated in 1980 and remains part of Bandai Namco’s current business more than four decades later.

Bandai Namco Entertainment is the game-and-digital-entertainment arm of the Bandai Namco Group, combining Namco’s historic arcade/game heritage with Bandai’s enormous character and IP ecosystem to publish games, operate network entertainment, license intellectual properties, and build long-term entertainment experiences around its franchises. Its history is the story of the convergence of Japanese toys, anime, arcade games, console games, mobile games, character licensing and global entertainment. From Pac-Man and Tekken to Gundam, Dragon Ball, The Idolmaster, Taiko no Tatsujin, Tales and Elden Ring, Bandai Namco’s central idea has increasingly been to turn intellectual properties into long-lasting entertainment ecosystems rather than treating individual games as isolated products.

1. Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
2. Organizational Chart | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
3. Corporate Overview | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.