Bandai Namco and developer Reflector Leisure introduced it has determined to not greenlight work on a “future undertaking.” Within the launched assertion, the studio’s CEO and Bandai Namco Leisure Europe CCO Herve Hoerdt confirmed that is as a result of “failure” of Unknown 9 Awakening. This additionally ends in layoffs for the studio.
Bandai Namco and Unknown 9 Awakening dev Reflector introduced cancelation
Unknown 9 Awakening launched on PS5 again in October 2024. It acquired combined opinions at launch, garnering a 59 on evaluation combination website Metacritic.
In a press release, Hoerdt says the undertaking was at the moment within the conceptualization part. Additionally they state that persevering with the undertaking is not going to be “sustainable for the way forward for the studio.”
“This choice correlates straight with the failure of the studio’s formidable and brave first undertaking, a brand new IP with a wealthy transmedia universe,” says Hoerdt. “The efficiency of the discharge didn’t come close to the corporate expectations, after quite a few timeline changes and funding, each financially and different, and didn’t warrant any additional exploration on this universe.”
“Sadly, this additionally impacts back-office employees, bringing the assist groups according to the only undertaking strategy the studio will undertake for the upcoming future,” Hoerdt continues.
A few of the folks engaged on the canceled undertaking will likely be moved to a different undertaking primarily based on an present Bandai Namco IP. Whereas that undertaking was not particularly named, Hoerdt did remark that it’s “shaping up very properly.”
These affected by redundancies will likely be supplied with an “satisfactory” severance bundle, prolonged well being advantages for each employees and their household, continued entry to counseling providers, and profession planning assist.
Though Unknown 9 Awakening didn’t meet Bandai Namco’s expectations, the assertion concludes by saying they may proceed creating Western content material.
Bandai Namco reportedly canceled “a number of” video games again in October 2024, two of which have been primarily based on the Naruto and One Piece franchises. It was additionally reported employees was lowered within the course of.