While the 'metaverse' - conventionally a network of virtual worlds often accessed through VR or AR - is a pretty old concept, for investors in big tech firms it's apparently a new, innovative one which is about to change our lives. As a result tech CEOs around the world can't say the term fast enough in their presentations and briefings. It's easy to be cynical, though the end result could — in theory — bring us some fun content in the future. The latest company planning to jump in is Bandai Namco, which has announced major investment in its own project.
In a presentation this week the company presented its 'IP Axis Strategy' (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz); the plan outlines a $130 million investment to drive engagement and growth for the company's brands.
In this IP Metaverse, we are anticipating virtual spaces that will enable customers to enjoy a wide range of entertainment on an IP axis, as well as frameworks that leverage Bandai Namco's distinctive strengths to fuse physical products and venues with digital elements.
We are aiming for open frameworks that provide venues for connections with and among fans and business partners. Through the IP Metaverse, we will establish communities among Bandai Namco and fans, as well as among fans themselves.
Bandai Namco's business is performing well - with an operating profit of ¥92.1 billion ($799 million) through Q3 this year - though a major goal is to boost its popularity and revenues outside of Japan. It's publishing FromSoftware's The Elden Ring later this month, too, which looks likely to be a major sales success globally.
The form of an IP Metaverse could be a number of things, of course - online platforms where fans can interact and play across franchises could be a Fortnite-style game or something more focused on social interaction. It could be based on virtual or augmented reality if it's aiming for a literal approach to the metaverse term. As with all moves like this Bandai Namco will likely have to carefully gauge fan mood in terms of what technologies and approaches it follows.
Bandai Namco does have a lot of franchises with large fanbases in its catalogue, of course, so the project arguably has big potential. Let us know what you think, as always, in the comments.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 48
I don't understand what any of this means.
I just want to play games.
I don't know whether metaverse is good or bad.
I guess it's because we're still in the super early days, but do so many people genuinely think we'll one day hit a point where Spielberg's take on Ready Player One is our reality?
Feels like it's still at least a decade or two away before the "meta verse" concept can be fully realized.
Please make Go Vacation 2 , We Cheer 3 for Nintendo Switch.
Also, please be a publisher of Level-5 games so we can play Yokai Watch 4++ and Yokai Watch Jam English version.
I just want final lap 1/2/3 on arcade archives. Can we do that first.
If it's a virtual arcade kind of thing I'd be cool with that. Just please, no NFTs or any similar crap.
It means Pacman will be working in your local chemist soon. He is after all a Pill specialist.
‘Metaverse’ is just a buzz word that sounds like some future-proof concept, so no wonder investors would be wetting themselves at this prospect.
Let’s just keep it simple and stick to the games, eh.
This is Bandai Namco saying they want to be a player, not an acquisition.
Really wish Pac-Man would Wakka-Walkaway from this Metaverse idea.
@Browny Ignoring all the social and political decay around the metaverse in Ready Player one....I still just don't get the appeal? I don't really want to enter a virtual world where everything is a complete mash up of everything. I'd rather not be playing a fantasy game with my friends and have Korra, Pac-Man and the Iron Giant turn up and break all immersion.
Honestly it all feels just like Second Life 2 but now they're trying to market it based on nostalgia and fandom for IPs. To me at least, that just sounds unbearably hollow and trite. And then there's the whole crypto, NFT, blockchain push that inevitably follows the metaverse concept around like a bad, planet-killing smell.
I really hope the metaverse flops hard. Its like all the worst things of all social media combined.
There are days I would go into a crappy Pac-Man metaverse and never come out. Just to dull the pain of this crazy planet we on..
It's funny how when we think of investors we think of older people with no clue about gaming... but now most of us are these older people and the OG investors are dead
Not to sound like the gamer equivalent of a boomer but I miss when people just made games rather than factories intended to squeeze as much money out of your pocket as possible.
eh atleast it aint an nft
@Browny metaverse is already leagues behind second life and vr chat which both have better models more freedom better framerates and character models that move with you as opposed to the metaverse’s roblox models.
There was a video of a metaverse “rave” recently and it looked like a 2006 roblox level in all the worst ways.
So this might mean we can have Kazuya literally handing our @$$3$ to us?
Oof. How many years are we going to have to hear empty industry hype for "metaverse".
I think metaverse concepts only work if you already have a rich & engaging IP. I don't think an aggregate of classic arcade games is enough to pull it off.
Eh, MetaVerse feels like something publishers are kind of forcing but it could be somewhat interesting/fun if done right.
ahh metaverse the next buzzword that no one really knows what to do with it in a meaningful way...
its southparks 1. collect underpants 2. ? 3. profit
I really have no clue what going to happen with all the meta stuff. Sounds Matrix ish lol.
This metaverse stuff will probably be an interesting concept in a couple of decades, when it moves far beyound "legless Mii" avatars with Wii graphics.
Like NFT i can't comprehend what it all means
@mr_somewhere
I believe that the intention to squeeze as much $ as possible was always present, they just didn't have as many ways to do it then as they have now.
I feel, like 3D theaters, metaverses will be the latest interactive fad that runs for about 10 years because corporations put so much money into it they have to force them to run their courses, then it will just die out.
Can’t help but feel like this is nothing but a bad thing. Facebook getting more holds on everything, hmmm no.
How to say nothing substantial using a lot of buzzwords, 101.
Seems like Second Life is going to get a second life. This is going to be great! Everyone is going to buy a VR set, and play emulated games on virtual arcade machines, paying for each credit with NFT bitcoins!
Why has gaming turned into a massive joke? NFTs, Metaverses, Loot boxes, Battle Royales, etc.
There's no soul or passion anymore. Just greed.
I thought the Namco Museum IP was their metaverse, they want another one?
I m going to invest 5 bucks in my own metaverse
Ah yes, I do love me some buzzwords in the afternoon.
In other words: $130 million spent on nothing.
This is a whole lot of buzzwords to hook ignorant investors. Seriously means nothing. But if they're able to actually build a world where I can raise Digimon for real, then fine I'll eat my words and be a happy Digimon Tamer! Everything else, I don't care about.
NFTs and the Metaverse exist solely because of COVID. That's my belief, anyways. With lockdown restrictions and social distancing and all that jazz, people are desperate for a feeling of normalcy. The metaverse is how large corporations are trying to capitalize on that. It's an escapism.
this is just a corporate nonsense word. It means nothing because it means something different to every person and company. Investors are just dumb and easily led
Could have won me over if we had 3D avatars sitting at tables & playing Duelyst had they not ended that game.
So basically you could go into digital worlds using virtual reality and/or augmented reality? That actually sounds pretty cool!
Crazy theory time: the industry is being pushed/scammed into doomed metaverse/NFT projects so they can burn vast amounts of money making them easy acquisitions for the blob.
Wait a minute...
They said CUSTOMERS.
Instead of CONSUMERS.
They're learning, finally!
:: praisesun ::
this is maybe the most meaningless appropriation of a buzzword yet
Now: $130m investment, to build an IP-metaverse
Soon: bandai namco metaverse flounders, looks for investors
Later: MS acquires bandai namco
I'd prefer the FetaVerse. Endless fields of brined curd cheese...
This is like the 3D trend. It'll end up taking off, then crashing and burning eventually. Companies want to get in on it and be the first to make a metaverse, not realizing that "metaverses" already exist. At the moment, Metaverses are games with multiple games inside of them, as well as events, and we've had that for years with normal MMO rpgs and things like VR Chat.
Gaming is full of big business types throwing around all sorts of buzzwords these days. I miss the days when they simply focused on making video games.
I think I’m some ways Smash Bros is a somewhat meta verse… thing. At the same time, literally everyone talking about meta verses is awful and nobody, especially Meta/Facebook know what the hell they’re doing.
@Chubby_Man_X True, we're only seeing their true colours I suppose.
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