Nintendo has announced it will buy most shares in Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, a game development team based in Singapore. After the deal closes, the studio will become part of Nintendo and change its name to Nintendo Studios Singapore. This move aims to help Nintendo build more games faster.
Nintendo signed an agreement with Bandai Namco Studios Inc. to take 80% ownership on April 1, 2026, if all approvals go through. It plans to buy the rest later, once things settle down. The studio will keep making game parts, like artwork and models, under its new name.
Bandai Namco Studios Singapore started in 2013. It has helped Nintendo with games like the Splatoon series, doing things like drawing concepts, building characters, and creating environments. It also worked on Bandai Namco titles such as Tekken, Ace Combat, and Soul Calibur.
Nintendo says the studio is good at making in-game pictures and models. Bringing it in-house will make teamwork smoother. The deal won’t change Nintendo’s money much this year.
In its press release, Nintendo stated: “BNSS was established as one of Bandai Namco Group’s overseas bases and is a development company with strong expertise in creating in-game art assets. It has contributed to the development of Nintendo titles, including the Splatoon series.”
Fans are excited online. Some on Reddit and X say it’s smart for Nintendo to own teams it already works with closely. Nintendo has bought other helpers before, like Next Level Games and Shiver Entertainment, to grow its game-making power.
This fits Nintendo’s plan to make more games for its consoles, like the Switch and upcoming ones. The studio will stay in Singapore and keep going as usual.
Nintendo shared the news in a release for investors. You can read the full details on their website. This could mean more cool art in future Nintendo games!