Bandai Namco Axes Five Games, Elden Ring DLC Still Coming

In a recent financial report, Bandai Namco revealed a significant 96.5% drop in income, largely due to the previous fiscal year's high sales of Elden Ring, which could not be matched. The company is still seeing stable performance from Dragon Ball and One Piece games, and Armored Core 6 has been popular. However, the income drop has led to Bandai Namco canceling at least five undisclosed titles to focus on quality and establish a well-balanced title portfolio. On the brighter side, the development of Tekken 8 is moving smoothly and Elden Ring fans can look forward to large-scale DLC with "Shadow of the Erdtree." As a strategic move, Bandai Namco has opted for stricter standards for development projects.

The significant income drop was primarily because Elden Ring's exceptional sales from the previous fiscal year could not be replicated by any new titles this year, coupled with the cancellation of five games in development.

Bandai Namco Entertainment, often recognized for its high-profile video game franchises like Tekken, Dark Souls, and the Tales series, has experienced financial setbacks despite their history of success. The developer is known for partnering with other studios, such as FromSoftware for the globally acclaimed success Elden Ring—a title that set a high bar in sales. As the industry continues to evolve, Bandai Namco appears to be shifting its strategy towards tighter development controls to ensure the continuation of their long-standing reputation for quality games.