Nintendo is expanding its development footprint in a major way, confirming that it will acquire Bandai Namco Studios Singapore and bring the team under a new name, Nintendo Studios Singapore. The move is set to strengthen Nintendo’s long-term development structure, especially in the areas of in-game art, worldbuilding, and asset creation.
A Strategic Move To Strengthen Development
Nintendo has entered a share transfer agreement with Bandai Namco Studios that will see the Singapore arm, Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, become an official Nintendo subsidiary. The studio has worked with Nintendo for years, contributing to titles across multiple platforms, most notably the Splatoon series.
The acquisition is planned in two stages. Nintendo will take an 80 percent stake on April 1, 2026, followed by the remaining shares after the subsidiary’s operations have stabilised. Once the transition is complete, the studio will officially operate as Nintendo Studios Singapore.
Nintendo noted that Bandai Namco Studios Singapore has a long history of producing high-quality in-game art assets, animation, and modelling. This expertise has already supported some of Nintendo’s biggest modern franchises, making the acquisition a natural step as the company continues to scale its development capacity.
Inside Bandai Namco Studios Singapore
Founded in 2013 and based in the Infinite Studios complex in Singapore, Bandai Namco Studios Singapore has served as one of Bandai Namco’s key overseas development hubs. Over time, the team has built a strong portfolio across Nintendo and Bandai Namco titles, contributing not only to Splatoon 3 but also to well known global franchises such as Tekken and Ace Combat.
The studio’s work on Splatoon 3 covered concept art, character modelling, animation, and environment modelling. Beyond Nintendo titles, its involvement with Tekken 7 and Tekken 8 includes support for network libraries, which form part of the backbone of the fighting game’s competitive experience.
A Quiet But Important Expansion For Nintendo
Nintendo already holds shares in Bandai Namco Holdings, its long-time development partner, ranking among the company’s top ten shareholders as of September 2025. Bringing the Singapore studio directly under the Nintendo umbrella further tightens this partnership while giving Nintendo direct access to a strong art-focused team in Southeast Asia.
The acquisition also follows Nintendo’s recent move to establish a new local entity in Singapore aimed at accelerating its regional business. With Southeast Asia becoming an increasingly important market for development and operations, the new subsidiary signals Nintendo’s growing commitment to the region.
Nintendo has clarified that the acquisition will only have a minor effect on its financial results for the current fiscal year, but the long-term impact is expected to strengthen its global development structure for future projects across both established and upcoming franchises.
A Studio With Esports Impact
Bandai Namco Studios Singapore’s contributions have reached deep into competitive gaming as well. Splatoon 3 continues to thrive with active leagues and open-bracket events, including a North American tournament series set to enter its Playoffs at the end of December.
The studio’s work on Tekken has also supported one of the most recognisable fighting game franchises in modern esports. Tekken 8, in particular, remains a headliner across major competitive events, from EVO France to this year’s Esports World Cup.
By bringing BNSS in-house, Nintendo gains a proven team with experience across both single-player and competitive titles, reinforcing its capacity to deliver polished, visually distinct worlds.
What Comes Next
Once renamed Nintendo Studios Singapore, the team will continue game development under Nintendo’s direction, contributing to future titles and strengthening the company’s production pipeline. For fans, the acquisition signals Nintendo’s ongoing investment in building high-quality games with globally distributed talent.
With development demands rising across the industry, Nintendo’s decision to acquire a trusted partner instead of building a new branch from scratch shows a strategic, long-term approach to supporting its biggest franchises and exploring new ones.