D. Tighe
Research expert covering consumer behavior, sporting goods retail, and the global toy industry.
Bandai Namco - statistics & facts
For decades, Namco Limited was known for classic game franchises, such as Pac-Man and Galaxian while Bandai Co., Ltd. had become a staple in the world of figurine and toy production for popular licenses, such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Ultraman. Both highly successful enterprises were founded in Japan in the 1950s. Fast-forward to the mid-2000s, the companies agreed on a merger, resulting in the birth of Namco Bandai Holdings Inc., eventually being renamed to Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. about a decade later. Today, Bandai Namco owns several franchises and intellectual properties (IPs) and is one of the largest video game publishers and toy manufacturers in Japan as well as worldwide.
Much of this toy (and video game) revenue is made through the sale of licensed goods from well-known anime franchises, including but not limited to, Digimon, Dragon Ball, and One Piece. In the previous fiscal year, Bandai Namco generated some 102 billion Japanese yen (about 960 million U.S. dollars) from their long-running in-house IP known as Mobile Suit Gundam, outperforming Dragon Ball and making it the company’s most valuable brand that year.
The company has also announced a number of new products set to be released in the near future, such as Little Nightmares III, Gundam Breaker 4, and DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO.
Bandai Namco’s toys and IPs
Although Bandai Namco produces various kinds of products, the company’s largest product segments by far are the digital entertainment unit, which creates mobile apps and home video games, and the toys & hobby entertainment business unit. From Gachapon and Tamagotchis to collectibles and action figures, the Japanese powerhouse makes many kinds of physical items for young consumers to enjoy. In the financial year ended March 31, 2024, the toys and hobby business unit made about 500 billion Japanese yen (nearly 3.4 billion U.S. dollars) of net sales, a similar figure compared to the previous fiscal year.Much of this toy (and video game) revenue is made through the sale of licensed goods from well-known anime franchises, including but not limited to, Digimon, Dragon Ball, and One Piece. In the previous fiscal year, Bandai Namco generated some 102 billion Japanese yen (about 960 million U.S. dollars) from their long-running in-house IP known as Mobile Suit Gundam, outperforming Dragon Ball and making it the company’s most valuable brand that year.
Bandai Namco’s video games
Almost as large as the toy segment, is the company’s video game division. In the twelve months between March 2023 and March 2024, Bandai Namco sold a total of approximately 40 million video game units, a decline compared to the previous financial year, but still a good year for the division and the Group in general. In addition to the licensed anime products mentioned earlier, some of the most recent titles published by Bandai Namco include Tekken 8 and Sand Land. One very successful title the company published was Elden Ring, a game developed by FromSoftware in partnership with Games of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. The title was very well received and sold around 23 million copies worldwide as of February 2024.The company has also announced a number of new products set to be released in the near future, such as Little Nightmares III, Gundam Breaker 4, and DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO.
