Bandai Namco Entertainment
Bandai Namco Entertainment business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Sword Art Online Game Echoes of Aincrad Trailer Shows Avatar Creation, Combat, and Partners
Bandai Namco released a new trailer for Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad, showcasing avatar creation, partner systems, and combat mechanics. The game, set to launch on July 10, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, aims to provide an MMORPG experience distinct from the main series' focus on Kirito and Asuna.
Nintendo Download: 21st May (North America)
The latest Nintendo Download update for North America brings a variety of new games to the eShop, including "Yoshi and the Mysterious Book," "Tales of ARISE – Beyond the Dawn Edition," and "Coffee Talk Tokyo." Other notable releases include "Bubsy 4D," "FZ: Formation Z," and "R-Type Dimensions III," alongside numerous indie titles across various genres.
TEKKEN™ 8 Enters the Arena in UniVersus — New Booster Set and Accessories Releasing August 14, 2026
UVS Games, in partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., announced that the TEKKEN 8 Booster Set for the UniVersus collectible card game will be released on August 14, 2026, with prerelease events starting August 7. The set will feature 14 character cards, new mechanics like the Heat Mechanic, and Arena Cards, alongside serialized Chrome Rares. UVS Games will also have a presence at Evolution Championship Series in Las Vegas with exclusive promotional cards and playable demos.
Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online ‘System’ trailer
Bandai Namco Entertainment and Game Studio have released a new seven-minute trailer for the action RPG Sword Art Online: Last Recollection. The trailer showcases the game's 'System' features.
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition launch trailer – RPG incoming for Nintendo Switch 2
Bandai Namco Entertainment has released the launch trailer for Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition, which is set to release on Friday, May 22nd for the Nintendo Switch. The game is described as a first-class JRPG experience with a captivating story and rewarding combat system.
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition review for Nintendo Switch 2
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition is reviewed for the Nintendo Switch 2, offering a complete experience with the base game and its expansion. The review highlights the game's fast-paced combat, deep character development, and emotionally resonant narrative about healing and empathy. The Nintendo Switch 2 version is praised for its fluid performance and visually impressive presentation, making it feel like an animated movie.
Animal Crossing Flocked Figures Return This Fall
Bandai Namco and Nintendo are re-releasing flocked figures of 10 popular characters from Animal Crossing: New Horizons starting in Japan in September 2026. These figures, which were originally released in 2021 and 2022, will be identical to the previous versions and are expected to receive a worldwide release. The game is available on the Nintendo Switch.
This indie dev's dungeon crawling 'descent into madness' was inspired by motherly love
Indie developer Christopher Yabsley is creating Heathen, a dark fantasy dungeon crawler inspired by a cherished childhood memory of playing Diablo with his mother. The game will feature first-person combat, randomized loot, and online co-op, with an early access release planned for Steam.
Tales of Arise - Beyond the Dawn Edition coming to Switch 2 this week
Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced that Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition, which includes the base game and its downloadable content, will be released on the Nintendo Switch on May 22nd. A new trailer for the edition has also been released.
Review: Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition Is a Pristine Port
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition is a well-executed port for the Nintendo Switch, offering a smooth experience with its active combat system and impressive visuals. The complete package includes the base game and its expansion, providing a strong JRPG experience that runs admirably at 30fps in handheld mode, though it doesn't match the performance of the PlayStation 5 version.
Review: Tales Of Arise - Beyond The Dawn Edition (Switch 2) - Solid Game, Solid Port, Goes On A Bit
Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition is a solid port of the acclaimed action RPG to the Nintendo Switch 2, offering a complete experience with its substantial expansion. While the game features flashy combat and gorgeous graphics, it suffers from an overlong story, spongy enemies, and underwhelming DLC. Despite these issues, it remains a worthwhile purchase and a good entry point into the Tales series.
Persona 30th Anniversary Goods Include Wafers and Bkub Art
Atlus is celebrating the Persona series' 30th anniversary in 2026 with a variety of merchandise, including collaborations with artist Bkub Okawa and wafers produced by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Pre-orders for some items are available until June 10, 2026, with domestic shipping in Japan to follow in July. The anniversary officially falls on September 20, 2026, marking 30 years since the original Persona's release on PlayStation.
New PS Plus Classic Game Missing Popular PS5, PS4 Feature
The PlayStation 1 classic Time Crisis has been added to PlayStation Plus and the PlayStation Store without support for trophies, disappointing players. Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment has a history of not implementing trophies in its classic releases, with its emulation partner Implicit Conversions citing increased development costs as a potential reason.
Hands On: It's No GunCon, But I'm Having a Blast with Time Crisis' PS5 Gyro Controls
This preview explores the new gyroscope controls for Time Crisis on PlayStation 5, offering a functional, albeit not perfect, light gun experience. While not a true GunCon replacement, the DualSense's motion controls allow for aiming across the screen, with a recenter button to combat drift. The game also includes extra stages and the NTSC version for enhanced longevity, though it notably lacks Trophies.
Nintendo’s stock has climbed as much as 6.8% thanks to AI fatigue
Nintendo's stock saw a significant increase of 6.8%, marking the third consecutive day of gains, as investors reportedly experience 'AI fatigue' and seek alternative investments. Bandai Namco Holdings and Konami Group also experienced stock rises exceeding 9%. Capcom reiterated its policy of not directly implementing generative AI-created materials into its games, though it will use AI for efficiency improvements.
No PS5, PS4 Trophies for Time Crisis as Bandai Namco Continues Its Classics Losing Streak
Time Crisis has been released on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, but publisher Bandai Namco has once again omitted Trophy support for the classic arcade shooter. This follows a trend of Bandai Namco's PS1 and PS2 classic releases lacking Trophies, despite the company being active in bringing older titles to modern platforms.
PS5 boss admits that single-player exclusives will no longer be ported to PC
Sony's PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst has confirmed that single-player PlayStation 5 exclusives will no longer be ported to PC. This policy change means upcoming titles like Marvel's Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei will remain console-exclusive. While multiplayer and live-service games will still receive PC releases, the move is seen as a strategy to drive PlayStation 5 console sales.
Rumour: LEGO's Next Pokémon Sets Might Have Been Revealed
Rumors suggest that LEGO is planning to release several new Pokémon-themed building sets, including 'Trainer's Buggy Adventure with Squirtle' and 'Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle'. These potential sets, which may feature a new smart brick function, have reportedly been revealed ahead of any official announcement from LEGO. This news follows recent reports of LEGO discontinuing some of its existing Nintendo sets, including the first Legend of Zelda set.
LEGO Poké Ball seemingly delayed for production reasons
The LEGO Poke Ball set, featuring a scene inside and a Pokemon minifigure, has reportedly been delayed from its August 1st release due to production issues. This set was rumored to be the only one containing a minifigure. The LEGO x Pokemon collaboration also includes other sets like Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, and Pikachu and Eevee.
Next Bexide Mountain Game Is Namco Legendary Mountains
Bexide announced Namco Legendary Mountains, a new physics-based matching puzzle game featuring Bandai Namco icons. The game will launch worldwide for Nintendo Switch and PC in Summer 2026, with a preview at the Kyoto BitSummit PUNCH in May 2026. It follows the gameplay of Suika Game but incorporates 3D elements and characters from series like Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Mappy, Druaga, and Xevious.
