In recent months, Bandai Namco has joined the ranks of several gaming industry companies that are canceling projects and laying off employees. According to a Bloomberg report, the company has initiated layoffs affecting 200 out of its 1,300 workforce, with an additional 100 employees opting to resign. [Thanks, Bloomberg!]
The layoffs stem from a series of project cancellations that began in April 2024, which particularly affected the company’s mobile and PC game divisions. Notably, Bandai Namco decided to discontinue the mobile installment of the Tales series, Tales of the Rays, and is set to close Blue Protocol in January 2025.
Other projects have also faced significant delays or outright cancellations, including titles based on popular franchises such as Naruto and One Piece, as reported by Bloomberg. Furthermore, a game that was previously commissioned by Nintendo has also been put on hold.
Bandai Namco is not alone in this trend of stepping back from live-service and mobile gaming. In 2024, Square Enix also announced the discontinuation of several mobile games, including Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia, NieR Reincarnation, and Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. The gaming sector has seen widespread employee layoffs, affecting notable Western studios such as Bungie, Activision Blizzard, and SEGA of America.
Currently, there is little clarity regarding the implications for the studios operating under the Bandai Namco brand or the status of other in-development games.
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