Bandai Namco is creating a new “IP metaverse,” an endeavor that will cost the company $130 million USD. The idea is supposed to help fans connect with each other through different IPs, and allow publishers to reach them as well. As spotted by VGC, the strategy was shared by the publisher during a shareholder meeting on Tuesday. The plan’s aim was dubbed as the “IP Axis Strategy.” Honestly though, the word metaverse always gets me a bit nervous, but we’ll see how this pans out.
Using its IP, the company wants to create a world in which fans interact, providing an online space where fans can connect with each other socially. So, is it doing something like walking around a virtual Anor Londo with friends, dodging arrows?
“Bandai Namco will develop a metaverse for each IP as a new framework for connecting with fans,” the company explained in its strategy. “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.”
An online space
Bandai Namco elaborated more about the plan: “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. Through these communities and content, we will build deep, broad, multifaceted connections that continue for long periods of time, and we will focus on the quality of those connections. In this way, we will work to maximize IP value over the medium to long term.”
The large investment will go to the “data foundation” and to keep players invested with new content over time. Bandai Namco has stressed that this will be one of the company’s core focuses over the next few years, so expect to see tons more metaverse news in the future.
Published: Feb 9, 2022 11:30 am