Bandai Namco Europe signs new deals with EMP and Rhinoshield for Pac-Man merch and more

Video game publisher Bandai Namco Europe has closed a direct licensing agreement with EMP for the German-based company to provide exclusive merchandise for Bandai Namco’s Dark Souls, Tekken and Little Nightmares franchises. Categories include apparel, accessories, gifts and more.

In addition, Bandai Namco Europe is continuing to grow its Pac-Man licensing programme, partnering with Rhinoshield to launch a fun phone accessories collection.

Bandai Namco Europe is a leading global publisher and developer of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC. Its franchises include Little Nightmares, Park Beyond, and the upcoming Unknown 9 Awakening,  developed by the recently acquired Reflector Entertainment, based in Montreal. Bandai Namco Europe serves as the HQ of Bandai Namco Holdings for mainland Europe and ANZ, which is known for producing many of the toy and entertainment industries’ top franchises, including Pac-Man, Tamagotchi and Gundam.

Bandai Namco begins toy and games divisions merger process with new president

The wheels have been set in motion of a restructuring at Bandai Namco that will see the Japanese corporation merge its toy and gaming units ‘to better leverage its many IPs’ such as Pac-Man, Dark Souls, and Tekken.

Upon the release of its latest financial results, Bandai Namco confirmed that company veteran Masaru Kawaguchi was to move into the role of president and representative director, and lead ‘a new strategic direction’ at the company.

This direction includes pushing through plans to merge its toy and games business, reflecting what it has billed in a statement issued to the press as ‘a new era of dramatically changing sense of values and lifestyles.’

From April this year, Bandai Namco will push forward with these previously announced plans, part of which will see the corporation reduce its operating units from five to three.

Kawaguchi will assume his new role after a one year tenure as part-time director for all Bandai Namco Entertainment.

As part of the move, the Toys and Hobby Unit and Network Entertainment Unit will be merged into the Entertainment Unit. Meanwhile, the Visual and Music Production Unit and IP Creation Unit will be merged into the IP production Unit. Finally, the Real Entertainment Unit will be renamed Amusement Unit.

Bandai said: “From April 2021, each business will join together in a united effort to a greater degree than before under the All Bandai Namco concept in preparation for the next Mid-term Plan.

“The Company will reorganise its Unit structure to further strengthen its IP Axis Strategy in the global market, and will change to a new structure for its directors.”

By merging the toy games and toy divisions, Bandai Namco said it believed it would be able to better leverage its many IPs, which include Pac-Man, Dark Souls, Tekken and more.