Nintendo has been steadily moving beyond traditional console gaming – just think of The Super Mario Bros. Movie or the creation of Nintendo Pictures – but at the same time, it is quietly strengthening its in-house development muscle. The latest step in that strategy is the planned acquisition of Bandai Namco Singapore, which is set to become an official member of the Big N conglomerate.

It has long been clear that Nintendo is reshaping its business strategy to tap into a broader entertainment landscape. That shift has already yielded high-profile results such as the hugely successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the purchase of Dynamo Pictures, which was reborn as Nintendo Pictures and now produces visual content based on the company’s most valuable IPs.

None of this means Nintendo is taking its eye off video games. On the contrary, the company is investing further in its development capacity through the acquisition of Bandai Namco Singapore. This studio has assisted on projects like Ace Combat 7 and has also supported the Shuntaro Furukawa–led company on Splatoon 3, acting as an external partner on major titles.

According to the official announcement, the deal will not be a one-shot full buyout. If regulators give their approval, Nintendo will acquire 80% of the studio’s shares on April 1, 2026, then purchase the remaining stake “after a certain period of time, once the subsidiary’s operations have stabilized.” In practice, the team will gradually be folded into the group.

As for what Nintendo plans to do with Bandai Namco Singapore, concrete details are still under wraps. The company simply states that the acquisition aims to “strengthen the Nintendo Group’s development structure” and that the Singapore-based developers will “continue their development operations” under a new banner: Nintendo Studios Singapore. It is a move very much in line with how Dynamo Pictures was integrated and rebranded as Nintendo Pictures.

The statement does not disclose how much Nintendo will pay to acquire all of Bandai Namco Singapore’s shares. What we do know is that the transaction will not be a major hit to its finances. The company notes that the acquisition will have only a minor effect on its results for the current fiscal year, suggesting that this is a strategic investment rather than a high-risk gamble. Once the purchase is complete, we should get a clearer picture of how the Singaporean team fits into Nintendo’s long-term roadmap.

Latest Nintendo Switch 2 Update Fixes NieR: Automata Issues

Studio acquisitions are not the only thing Nintendo has been working on. The company is also fine-tuning the user experience on its recently released Nintendo Switch 2 handheld. The system has already been updated to firmware version 21.0.1, and players have reacted with enthusiasm.

The update addresses compatibility issues affecting NieR: Automata on the console and fixes two rare but annoying bugs. In short, Nintendo is sending a double message: it is preparing for the future with new studios under its umbrella, while continuing to support its current hardware with frequent, detail-focused updates.

Source: 3djuegos