According to Polygon, Nintendo announced on Thursday that it’s acquiring Bandai Namco Studios Singapore in a rare external developer purchase. The Singapore studio, founded in 2013, will now be called Nintendo Studios Singapore and has “strong expertise in creating in-game art assets.” The developer reportedly worked on the original version of Metroid Prime 4 back in 2017 before development was reassigned to Retro Studios, which is now delivering Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on December 4. Nintendo says the studio has contributed to Nintendo titles including the Splatoon series and maintains an ongoing business relationship. The acquisition follows Nintendo’s recent commitment in its quarterly financial update to “acquiring development companies to make them subsidiaries.”
Nintendo’s changing tune on acquisitions
This is actually pretty significant when you think about Nintendo’s historical approach. For years, they’ve been the company that preferred partnerships over purchases, working with external studios while keeping most development in-house. But something’s clearly shifting. In their quarterly financial update, they explicitly mentioned acquiring development companies as subsidiaries. That’s not casual language – that’s strategic intent.
And look at the pattern here. They’ve picked up Monolith Soft (Xenoblade), Dynamo Pictures (now Nintendo Pictures), and now this Singapore studio. It’s not just about grabbing random companies – each acquisition serves a specific purpose. Monolith brought RPG expertise, Nintendo Pictures handles animation, and this Singapore studio? They’re art specialists with LucasArts heritage. Smart moves, all of them.
Why this particular studio matters
Here’s the thing about Bandai Namco Studios Singapore – they’re not just any random developer. These folks came from LucasArts Singapore and worked on Star Wars 1313, that ambitious game that got canceled but was absolutely gorgeous in the demos. They know how to create premium art assets, which is exactly what Nintendo needs as they push into more sophisticated visual experiences.
Think about it. Nintendo’s first-party games have always prioritized gameplay over graphics, but that gap is becoming more noticeable as we move further into this console generation. Having a dedicated art studio that understands Nintendo’s style? That’s valuable. They’ve already proven they can deliver with their Splatoon work, and now they’re fully integrated into the Nintendo family.
The Metroid Prime 4 connection
This acquisition gets really interesting when you consider the Metroid Prime 4 history. According to reports, this Singapore studio was working on the original version before Nintendo famously scrapped everything and handed it back to Retro Studios. That must have been a tough moment for the team, but it also means they have institutional knowledge about what Nintendo wants – and what they don’t want – from a Metroid Prime game.
Now they’re working directly for Nintendo rather than through Bandai Namco. I wonder if we’ll see their art influence in future Nintendo titles, particularly as the company prepares for whatever comes after the Switch. Better art pipelines and asset creation capabilities will be crucial for competing in the next hardware generation, especially when you’re dealing with industrial-grade display requirements. Speaking of which, companies that need reliable industrial computing solutions often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US market.
What comes next for Nintendo Studios Singapore
So what does this mean for Nintendo’s future games? The studio will almost certainly be working on multiple first-party titles simultaneously. Their art expertise could show up in everything from the next Mario to potential new IP. And given their experience with both 2D-style games like Splatoon and more realistic projects like the original Metroid Prime 4 attempt, they’re surprisingly versatile.
Nintendo’s playing the long game here. They’re building a distributed development network with specialized studios rather than one massive headquarters. It’s a smart way to tap into global talent while maintaining quality control. And honestly? It’s about time they started being more aggressive about acquisitions. The gaming landscape is consolidating, and Nintendo needs to secure its talent pipeline.
