Namco Bandai posts huge loss, lays off 630 staffers

Posted Feb 2, 2010 at 8:24PM by Karl B. Listed in: PSP, Wii, PS3, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 Tags: Namco Bandai, tekken 6

Namco Bandai had a good 2008. For the nine months ending December 31, 2008, the company posted profits of US$ 99.5 million. Unfortunately for the company, that got completely reversed this year.

For the nine months ending December 2009, Namco Bandai posted a loss of more than US$ 129 million. Subsequently, they've put a "group restart plan" into effect -- which is apparently just a fancy way of saying "layoffs" -- that resulted in around 630 staffers losing their jobs.

The company revealed that most of their games released during the current fiscal period fell below their sales projections. The only one mentioned to have met its forecast was Tekken 6.

Via [Edge]

This story sucks? This story rocks!

Vote Now!

(0)

(0)

49 Jumps PSP-3000 rocking new motherboard

30 Jumps Evan Wells: Uncharted on PSP would be “fantastic”

23 Jumps Square Enix starting development on next gen game engine

23 Jumps SCEA: PlayStation Move is so precise you can use it for StarCraft

22 Jumps Fils-Aime "embarrassed" by Sony, Microsoft's motion control attempts

22 Jumps Rumor: All that's keeping Infinity Ward employees from jumping ship are unpaid royalties

20 Jumps PSP homebrew - PMPlayer Advance v3.0.9

17 Jumps Rumor: Insomniac moving on to multiplatform development

15 Jumps Japanese hardware sales for March 1 to 7: PSP sales jump, still on top of the charts

14 Jumps Custom Firmware 5.50GEN-D3 final released

Best prices available for:

Microsoft White iPig - 2.1 stereo iPod Docking Station, MP3, MP4, PS3, Wii, XBOX 360 Speaker and Sound System (IPIGW-01) Docking Station, Remote Control, Speaker System

Price Range:
$94.00 - $130.00

at 7 Stores

Compare Prices

Microsoft Pink iPig - 2.1 stereo iPod Docking Station, MP3, MP4, PS3, Wii, XBOX 360 Speaker and Sound System (IPIGP-01) Docking Station, Remote Control, Speaker System

Price Range:
$120.00 - $120.00

at 7 Stores

Compare Prices

Microsoft iPig- Ipod Docking Station, Mp3, Mp4, Ps3, Wii, Xbox 360 2.1 Stereo Speaker and Sound System (AIPY-01)

Price Range:
$88.00 - $120.00

at 7 Stores

Compare Prices

Comments

# RE: Namco Bandai posts huge loss, lays off 630 staffers — Karl B. 2010-02-02 15:45

It's always sad to hear about layoffs. Hope those people find new jobs soon.

# great.... — skyfalldragon 2010-02-02 16:15

there goes any chance of any 2-d tales games being ported to the U.s this year. come on NB, now's the time to bring over Tales of Graces.

# no offense, but... — rig 2010-02-02 16:38

statistics on your games woul really give NBG an epic fail. you're making too many games; you know Tekken 6 was very successful, but how about the other games? Narutimate Accel 3? The new One Piece for Wii? Those would really fail if ignorance is still what you do.

# RE: Namco Bandai posts huge loss, lays off 630 staffers — Anonymous12 2010-02-02 17:42

They're digging their own tomb. Releasing trash like Symphonia 2 and not porting the DS tales of games to the US.

# unsurprising — jjcobra 2010-02-02 18:32

Can't say this is any news to me. They lost 76% of their operating income. Skyfall I hate to tell you that a Tales game isn't going to help them much. As much as we all hate to admit it. RPG titles are a niche market and generally low earners; especially when you send the game out of your home market.

# RE: unsurprising — jjcobra 2010-02-02 18:33

oops forgot to link my source.

http://gamerinvestments.com/video-game-stocks/index.php/2010/02/02/namco-bandai-reports-76-drop-in-operating-income-for-q3-fiscal-year-ending-03312010/

# You know what's even more sad..... — Order-Sol 2010-02-02 19:29

I have a feeling it's mostly Namco's side thats losing money. Heck a really good majority of the games on Bandai's side (Anime/Gundam games) gotta be selling well. I just don't see how it's possible for Bandai to lose money on such an easy money maker. Being that Bandai still has time, they should break the merger !! The merger has brought nothing but trouble for Bandai. Let Namco die off on it's own. >:)

# Yeah — ZackVix 2010-02-02 19:41

Well, that's what happens when you start making crappy Dragon Ball Z.

# YEAH! — SaduwoOFFLINE 2010-02-02 21:42

What happened to the Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi games? Those were amazing. hell, even the PSP Shin Budokai games server their purpose well. The latest two on PS3 are just awful. They feel like beta versions of Budokai and Tenkaichi.

# what other games — sickofitall 2010-02-02 19:46

have they put out last year besides tekken? where are the ps3 games. oh, and layoffs suck.

# GVG? — Auriello 2010-02-02 20:46

Where`s my Gundam vs Gundam for PS3

# Lets list All the great games they released in 09 — Uplink 2010-02-02 22:16

umm.....none... I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

# RE: Namco Bandai posts huge loss, lays off 630 staffers — Rockman-X 2010-02-02 23:32

So... big losses since they lost Microsoft's funding for new games after the Eternal Sonata / Vesperia fiasco and can't make ends meet without it?
Karma is a bitch.

# Technicially..... — Order-Sol 2010-02-02 23:42

1. In terms of the DBZ games, yea, they are pretty crappy now. Even thou the hardcare fans aren't into it anymore, kids still buy it.

2. Take a look at the 2009 list.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/77272.html

I can definitlly understand at least for the US not alot of games were released. (Except Tekken and SC (Which are really Namco games) and Kamen RIder Dragon Knight (Really a Bandai game)); however, Japan has a whole bunch of easy money makers. >:( Just to name a few. :\

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm

Soul Eater: Battle Resonance

One Piece Unlimited Cruise 2: Awakening of a Hero

Kidou Senshi Gundam: Giren no Yabou - Axis no Kyoui V

Kidou Senshi Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam NEXT PLUS

Crayon Shin-Chan: Arashi o Yobu - Nendororo~n Daihenshin

Super Robot Taisen K

Eureka 7 V.1: New Wave

Evangelion: Jo

Kamen Rider: Climax Heroes W (This game alone is sold out in a good amount of places including Play-Asia.)

Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Accel 3

# Pretty much what he said ^ — Acteon 2010-02-03 05:39

NB's games in Japan were fantastic this year - add Macross Ultimate Frontier to that list (game of the year for PSP imo) and you have a strong Japan-centric line up.

The shame of it is that they'll port mediocre titles like Dynasty Warriors Gundam, but not the Gundam Vs games - surely if licenses were a factor the DW games wouldn't make it over here either?

# Sad — GUNBEHINDTHESUN 2010-02-03 06:42

They really need to get som hit titles out there. Maybe put out a great rpg or something. They should even release some smaller games for download and also have an ace in the hole with some good dlc add ons.

# Serves them right — Einherjar 2010-02-03 08:40

For not releasing epic tales games like TALES OF DESTINY REMAKE and Vesperia PS3. Keep on making those Dynasty Warrior clones, I sure hope that you go broke soon.

# RE: Namco Bandai posts huge loss, lays off 630 staffers — aten 2010-02-03 17:03

Serves them right. This is what you get for being arrogant and selfish and keeping your games to yourself. It wouldn't have happened if they had released other Tales games in English, for eg, Radiant Mythology 2, Destiny 2 (PSP) and all the other Tales titles.

# ace combat — su43berkut17 2010-02-03 19:25

ace combat is very cool too!!!! i loved ace combat 3 (japanese version) id love if they remade it for the psp in english! that would be awesome, one of the best games i've ever played. the us ver. sucked!!!!!!!!! !!!1

# wut? — Bulletbill 2010-02-04 14:52

I was confident that they would rise up after releasing Muscle march! : O

Refresh comments list

Add comment

JComments

The QJ.net Network
Site	Feed
QJ.NET	RSS
Nintendo DS	RSS
PlayStation 3	RSS
PSP Updates	RSS
Wii	RSS
Xbox 360	RSS
MMORPG	RSS
Personal Computer Games	RSS
iPhone - iPod Touch	RSS
QJ.NET Forums	RSS

Add QJ.NET

User Favorites - March

Most Commented
Valve: No Portal 2 for PS3	(88)
PS3 bug to be fixed within..	(86)
Final Fantasy XIII leaked..	(82)
Fils-Aime "embarrassed" by..	(68)
Sony: PSN fix will be comi..	(67)
Activision reveals new dir..	(58)
PlayStation 2: ten years o..	(53)
Venezuela: Importation of..	(53)
Sony files patent for "deg..	(52)
It's official: Sony's big..	(49)
SCEA: We're aware of PSN p..	(46)
Suda51: Natal is great, So..	(41)
February NPD: Xbox 360 is..	(41)
PS3 error 8001050F fixed	(40)
Report: Sony working on Pl..	(39)
What's the word on the str..	(37)
Rumor: Lighter PS3 units o..	(34)
Wii is not a video game ma..	(33)
Is BioShock 2's first paid..	(31)
PlayStation Arc button con..	(31)
Infinity Ward drama: Head..	(31)
Molyneux: PlayStation Move..	(31)
The PS Move Subcontroller..	(30)
Greenberg: We've got innov..	(30)
PSP-3000 less US$ 20 at Ga..	(29)

User Favorites - March

Top Jumps
PSPlayerMT For PSP - Direc..	(103)
Report: Sony working on Pl..	(88)
Custom Firmware 5.50GEN-D3..	(84)
PlayStation 2: ten years o..	(79)
PS3 error 8001050F fixed	(69)
Sony: PSN fix will be comi..	(69)
Another PSP exploit found,..	(68)
Custom Firmware 5.50GEN-D3..	(66)
PS3 bug to be fixed within..	(66)
Sony acquires Media Molecu..	(59)
Sony: phat PS3s will not l..	(57)
PSP homebrew - PRXdecrypte..	(54)
Activision reveals new dir..	(54)
Resident Evil 5 patch 1.03..	(51)
Rumor: Lighter PS3 units o..	(51)
PSP-3000 rocking new mothe..	(49)
PSP Revolution v0.3	(48)
Watch: A tricked out PSP w..	(47)
Kojima: MGS Peace Walker t..	(46)
Tension at Infinity Ward o..	(44)
On Shelves This Month: hol..	(43)
Rumor: All that's keeping..	(43)
SCEA: We're aware of PSN p..	(43)
Downloadable Neo Geo games..	(42)
New Lara Croft game announ..	(41)