Nintendo announces plans to acquire a Bandai Namco studio long-rumored to be the original Metroid Prime 4 developers

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — (Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo has announced its planned acquisition of shares in Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, with it set to become a subsidiary of Nintendo.

Weeks ago, Nintendo confirmed to shareholders that it was interested in "acquisition of developers as subsidiaries" as part of ongoing expansion efforts as it shifts its primary focus to Nintendo Switch 2. And based on Nintendo's previous acquisitions – with Retro Studios, Next Level Games, and Brownie Brown all working with Nintendo for years before becoming subsidiaries – I figured it was likely going to be reserved to studios Nintendo has worked with in the past as opposed to Microsoft-style industry-shifting publisher buyouts.

And less than a month later, Nintendo has confirmed that it has entered into an agreement with Bandai Namco to acquire shares in Bandai Namco Studios Singapore. Nintendo plans to have acquired 80% of the studio's shares by April 2026 (with the remainder to "be acquired after a certain period, once the subsidiary’s operations have stabilized"). And as a result of this, the studio will now become a Nintendo subsidiary and be renamed Nintendo Studios Singapore.

Per the studio's website it previously worked on art, characters, animation, and environments for Splatoon 3, while MobyGames notes its credits on Bandai Namco Studios-developed games like Mario Sports Superstars and New Pokemon Snap. Notably the studio was heavily rumoured to be the developer of Metroid Prime 4 before it restarted development under Retro Studios in 2019, although Nintendo never confirmed this detail officially. Meanwhile, the studio's CEO Makoto Ishii was recently credited in Kirby Air Riders, with a "Special Thanks" credit in Mario Kart World. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS / WiiU and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

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