News Sony Group Corporation, Bandai Namco Holdings and Gaudiy Have Begun a Strategic Partnership

[CrackmanNL]

Sony Group Corporation (hereafter referred to as Sony), Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. (hereafter referred to as BNHD), and Gaudiy Inc. (hereafter referred to as Gaudiy) have begun a strategic partnership in the fields of entertainment and technology. To promote this partnership, Sony and BNHD jointly invest ten billion yen in Gaudiy.

Press release:
https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/202505/25-0508E/

Gaudiy has heralded the vision of "Fan Nations" and created Gaudiy Fanlink, a community platform, offered to major entertainment companies, where fans can interact with their favorite IP. By using the latest technologies, such as blockchain and LLMs, Gaudiy gives fans new experiences. In 2025, Gaudiy acquires MyAnimeList *3, the world's largest anime and manga community site with 19.5 million registered users, 99% of whom are non-Japanese, thereby strengthening Gaudiy's connection to global fans.

In 2024, Sony introduced its "Creative Entertainment Vision," a long-term vision for where we want Sony to be in the future. The Company is committed to the creation and nurturing of attractive IP while deepening engagement with fans by expanding IP beyond boundaries, and maximizing IP value. Along with the development of entertainment, such as games, music, and pictures, Sony also plans, produces, streams, and distributes anime series. In 2021, Sony acquired the anime streaming service Crunchyroll and has delivered Japanese content to anime fans around the world.

BNHD has a Mid-term Plan for the next three years starting in April 2025 that aims to create continuous growth over a medium-to-long-term period on the basis of the group's Purpose, "Fun for All into the Future," and its Mid- to Long-term Vision of "Connect with Fans." By leveraging IP worldviews and providing the optimal products and services in the optimal regions at the optimal times, it will maximize the value of the IP as desired for an "IP axis strategy," and push the strengths of the global market even further.

Important themes of this collaboration:
- Global Expansion of Japanese IP
- IP Creation and nurturing next-generation Creators
- Data usage and Applications
- Blockchain
- Generative AI

note: this partnership is more to leverage synergy across the companies in entertainment fields for Japanese IP, not restricted to but including gaming.

 

[BillyZ]

Nintendo partnership with Namco: a studio dedicated to games only for Nintendo
Sony partnership with Namco: making formerly Sony exclusive games multiplatform

 

[Neversummer]

Nintendo partnership with Namco: a studio dedicated to games only for Nintendo
Sony partnership with Namco: making formerly Sony exclusive games multiplatform

Exactly.

Don’t forget you have the studio that makes Mario kart which I believe is from Bandai but also the next smash. Bandai made like 1-2 extra new studio solely to make games for Nintendo likely using Nintendo ip.

Even thoe this is likely has nothing to done PS & just Sony for like Crunchroll (anime) & taking Bandai ip for cross media. The creation of ip is weird because Bandai new ip are mediocre if you see there release most success is existing ip. It would be better if PS license ip not to make PS Japan games multiplatform but to get new entree exclusive. Nintendo is a direct competitor & has shown to take a hit in Japan if it means it can further push PS/Sony out which there being successful in doing PS being pushed out of Japan & Japanese consumer leaning to Nintendo as the main iconic gaming platform in Japan just means Nintendo is the defacto Japanese hardware/tech & entertainment/gaming company in Japan not Sony. Sony is forced to compete w PS vs Nintendo.

This seems like a useless partnership it’s really only effecting Sony. They couldn’t even make a partnership w PS to create a new merchandise/toys division in PS to create & sell merchandise using PS ip at a large scale even furthering the parappartherapper theme store outside Japan to expand the ip & maybe even a reboot parappatherapper game or a ape escape theme cafe/store. PS is so behind when you look at how Nintendo has handled there ip & specifically choosing how & where to grow by expanding ip to new consumers that doesn’t harm PS hardware or its storefront

 

[shrike0fth0rns]

Nintendo partnership with Namco: a studio dedicated to games only for Nintendo
Sony partnership with Namco: making formerly Sony exclusive games multiplatform

Note ps gamers did not buy those games, did not play those games but are willing to spend an awful amount of time online crying about those games.those games were put on a shelf for a reason.

 

[BillyZ]

Note ps gamers did not buy those games, did not play those games but are willing to spend an awful amount of time online crying about those games.those games were put on a shelf for a reason.

And they should have stayed there. Go ask Nintendo if you can license one of their games to make it multiplatform. They would tell you to fuck off no matter how badly it flopped.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Note ps gamers did not buy those games, did not play those games but are willing to spend an awful amount of time online crying about those games.those games were put on a shelf for a reason.

This is bullshit. People did buy those games, they just didn't sell like GOW or TLOU numbers...and why would they? Not every game needs to sell 20 million copies to be called a success. A bit tired of seeing this excuse levied as to why somehow people don't "deserve" to have new installments of certain types of games on their platform.

Anyway regarding the news itself...I'll wait to see what it means for games on PlayStation consoles before getting too hyped. Could be another Kadokawa situation where, ironically, Nintendo got a From Software exclusive this gen before PlayStation. I'm sure there'll be some cool anime & manga to come out of this, though, which is nice.

 

[Muddasar]

This is bullshit. People did buy those games, they just didn't sell like GOW or TLOU numbers...and why would they? Not every game needs to sell 20 million copies to be called a success. A bit tired of seeing this excuse levied as to why somehow people don't "deserve" to have new installments of certain types of games on their platform.

These games didn’t make enough returns to warrant more games. As in they weren’t profitable and probably didn’t break even either.

Regardless of how much they sold. That all depends on Game Budget and Expectations etc.

Sony obviously stopped making these games cause they were bleeding money.

 

[Yurinka]

I have no idea who Gaudiy is, but I think it's very important for Sony to have an as close relationship as possible with the biggest Japanese 3rd party publisher: Bandai Namco.

If in this case is to expand Japanese IP, create new IP supporting new creators and to invest in tech of the future, even better. Sounds like a smart long term investment.

 

[jp21]

I would buy a ton of Japan Studio games on PS and Switch. Would be great!

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

These games didn’t make enough returns to warrant more games. As in they weren’t profitable and probably didn’t break even either.

So you've got access to their fiscal data on these games? Cool, please share 'em

Regardless of how much they sold. That all depends on Game Budget and Expectations etc.

A Hot Shots game doesn't need to sell 10 million to recoup costs & make profit. It doesn't even need to sell 5 million. It's an anime-ish arcadey golf game, and not made in some super-expensive place where costs are inflated like California.

Sony obviously stopped making these games cause they were bleeding money.

Yes, Sony the corporation was bleeding money...that doesn't mean games like Hot Shots or Patapon were bleeding money. Those games aren't to blame for decisions Sony as a company made during the PS3 gen. They aren't the reason Sony added a Blu-Ray to every PS3 which pushed them to losing $300 for every PS3 sold. They aren't the reason the computer division was performing badly.

And the profits from those type of games were never going to recoup the losses those parts of the company were experiencing. Doesn't mean Sony had to stop making those games; they just needed to also make more mass-market games to complement them, and they eventually did with stuff like Uncharted, GT5, and TLOU.

 

[arvfab]

These games didn’t make enough returns to warrant more games. As in they weren’t profitable and probably didn’t break even either.

Regardless of how much they sold. That all depends on Game Budget and Expectations etc.

Sony obviously stopped making these games cause they were bleeding money.

So Bandai is dumb for wanting to revive games bleeding money?

 

[Yurinka]

It's also worth mentioning that this partnership is mostly related to anime and manga, more than to gaming.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

So Bandai is dumb for wanting to revive games bleeding money?

That's a good way of flipping their logic on them

It's also worth mentioning that this partnership is mostly related to anime and manga, more than to gaming.

I know. Which is why I'm more interested in gaming-related details, if any. We already know Bandai-Namco are getting legacy SIE IP licenses to re-release on multiple platforms.

Now I want to know, is that going to result in new games for PlayStation, specifically exclusives? If the console is still at the heart of things for SIE, and they're one of Sony's most important subsidiaries, they should push for that to happen.

Unless it's all talk, of course

 

[Yurinka]

I know. Which is why I'm more interested in gaming-related details, if any. We already know Bandai-Namco are getting legacy SIE IP licenses to re-release on multiple platforms.

Now I want to know, is that going to result in new games for PlayStation, specifically exclusives? If the console is still at the heart of things for SIE, and they're one of Sony's most important subsidiaries, they should push for that to happen.

Unless it's all talk, of course

Well, I think this new 3 ways partnership is a separate one than the one of the ports/remasters, in fact maybe isn't related to gaming at all and only/mostly is about manganime communities and supporting related new creators and IPs.

But in any case, having both Bandai Namco and Sony collaborating in whatever is postive because strengthens their relationship and that may later help for future games related stuff.

Regarding Bandai Namco doing potential exclusives for Sony, I don't see it. We aren't in the 90s, nowadays games are too expensive and need to have as much revenue sources as possible.

But could help to get some marketing deals, to get a deal for some bundle, to prevent them to do something with MS like putting some game early in GP/Xbox, to put some old game in PS Classics or PS+, to ease cross collabs related guest content in games, to do them some favor like these remasters/ports of niche portable Japanese games, maybe to develop in the future some mobile game for Sony, maybe to move some game away from the release date of some game, maybe to let FromSoft for them during some time to work in Bloodborne 2, if l lucky maybe to make some game a short timed console exclusivity, etc.

 

[GoombaGalaxy]

Well, I think this new 3 ways partnership is a separate one than the one of the ports/remasters, in fact maybe isn't related to gaming at all and only/mostly is about manganime communities and supporting related new creators and IPs.

But in any case, having both Bandai Namco and Sony collaborating in whatever is postive because strengthens their relationship and that may later help for future games related stuff.

Regarding Bandai Namco doing potential exclusives for Sony, I don't see it. We aren't in the 90s, nowadays games are too expensive and need to have as much revenue sources as possible.

But could help to get some marketing deals, to get a deal for some bundle, to prevent them to do something with MS like putting some game early in GP/Xbox, to put some old game in PS Classics or PS+, to ease cross collabs related guest content in games, to do them some favor like these remasters/ports of niche portable Japanese games, maybe to develop in the future some mobile game for Sony, maybe to move some game away from the release date of some game, maybe to let FromSoft for them during some time to work in Bloodborne 2, if l lucky maybe to make some game a short timed console exclusivity, etc.

Bandai will develop exclusives... But not for Sony.

Bandai Namco will develop exclusives for Nintendo because Nintendo is one of the major shareholders of Bandai Namco holding nearly 2% of Namco's shares and also because Nintendo leverages exclusivity any chance they get. The other major shareholders are asset management firms and banks (mostly Japanese) that don't care about multi-platform or platform exclusivity because they don't understand how to run the business nor care how you run the business. As long as you are earning a good profit then they won't mind and Nintendo is money printing machine.

 

[Muddasar]

So you've got access to their fiscal data on these games? Cool, please share 'em

Well it’s not rocket science. Sony has stopped making these games.

You reckon they were profitable?

A Hot Shots game doesn't need to sell 10 million to recoup costs & make profit. It doesn't even need to sell 5 million. It's an anime-ish arcadey golf game, and not made in some super-expensive place where costs are inflated like California.

Who said Hot Shots needed to sell 10 million?

Again the point is Sony stopped financing these games. They did not sell enough to warrant sequels.

It is not a set number. That is dependent on the game budget and expectations.

Yes, Sony the corporation was bleeding money...that doesn't mean games like Hot Shots or Patapon were bleeding money. Those games aren't to blame for decisions Sony as a company made during the PS3 gen. They aren't the reason Sony added a Blu-Ray to every PS3 which pushed them to losing $300 for every PS3 sold. They aren't the reason the computer division was performing badly.

Not sure what your trying to prove by bringing the PS3 into it as if Hot Shots was made a scapegoat cause of the PS3 bleeding money.

Hot shots Golf last appeared on the PS4. There was a VR game too.

It was abandoned during Sony’s profitable generation.

Regardless of the situation, why would Sony abandon a profitable product as you claim?

 

[Yurinka]

Bandai will develop exclusives... But not for Sony.

Bandai Namco will develop exclusives for Nintendo because Nintendo is one of the major shareholders of Bandai Namco holding nearly 2% of Namco's shares and also because Nintendo leverages exclusivity any chance they get. The other major shareholders are asset management firms and banks (mostly Japanese) that don't care about multi-platform or platform exclusivity because they don't understand how to run the business nor care how you run the business. As long as you are earning a good profit then they won't mind and Nintendo is money printing machine.

Yes, most of the money in consoles and PC is made by 3rd party multiplatform AAA games. And most of them GaaS.

All of them available in PS and most of them not in Switch, because 3rd party games normally sell way better in PS compared to Switch. That results on 3rd parties supporting Switch way less than they support PS, and putting most of their games in PS and many of them not in Switch.

To compensate it Nintendo has to fund 3rd party exclusives and 3rd party ports to have more games appealing than their decades old first party IPs.

Sony doesn't need to pay Bandai Namco to have games made by them on their console. Because like most 3rd party publishers already publish basically all their games on PS without getting paid to do so.

Regarding Bandai Namco's shareholders, I was curious and went to check it:

Nobody (including Nintendo) has any signifiant stake to control or influence them.

 

[GoombaGalaxy]

Yes, most of the money in consoles and PC is made by 3rd party multiplatform AAA games. And most of them GaaS.

All of them available in PS and most of them not in Switch, because 3rd party games normally sell way better in PS compared to Switch. That results on 3rd parties supporting Switch way less than they support PS, and putting most of their games in PS and many of them not in Switch.

To compensate it Nintendo has to fund 3rd party exclusives and 3rd party ports to have more games appealing than their decades old first party IPs.

Sony doesn't need to pay Bandai Namco to have games made by them on their console. Because like most 3rd party publishers already publish basically all their games on PS without getting paid to do so.

Regarding Bandai Namco's shareholders, I was curious and went to check it:

Nobody (including Nintendo) has any signifiant stake to control or influence them.

Nintendo has more influence than Sony over Bandai, for sure.

 

[Dabaus]

I really wish we could get a behind the scenes insider scoop at what exactly happened between Sony and Square enix.

 

[Kokoloko]

Note ps gamers did not buy those games, did not play those games but are willing to spend an awful amount of time online crying about those games.those games were put on a shelf for a reason.

Not every game has to sell 5+million copies to be deemed a success. This attitude needs to go and we need smaller games