It seems like Bandai Namco Entertainment’s metaverse plans are now in full swing as reports state that they have revealed development for a metaverse project featuring their iconic Gundam IP. The company is said to utilize a budget worth USD $130 Million to develop new experiences that will not only be limited to the digital realm but will also link to their physical assets such as shops and storefronts.
First revealed back in February 2022, Bandai Namco Entertainment, or BNE, a multimedia giant based in Japan has announced to the world that they are making the move to NFTs. BNE is largely known for properties such as the God Eater Series, Tekken and Ace Combat with properties that are not just limited to video games but also to anime series and shows.
In a report by Nikkei Asia, BNE’s metaverse push will start largely with the iconic franchise Gundam, with the project being dubbed as the “Mobile Suit Gundam Metaverse”. The project will incorporate video games, videos, live music, and as well as other content, and will be linked to physical experiences under the Gundam IP.
Aside from its long running TV shows and as well as line of video games, Gundam also holds great power in merchandising with one example being its Gundam plastic model kits or Gunpla.
BNE’s metaverse experiences will link to outlets and stores that feature this product and as well as other physical or real world experiences like arcades. Examples of these interactions include users enjoying digital experiences and being able to communicate using automatic translation, and even purchasing physical goods in the metaverse and having it delivered in real world homes.
The Gundam franchise is one of the most iconic and historic entertainment properties in the world with a history that spans more than four decades. First released back in 1979, the show became the catalyst for the popularity for the “real robot” anime genre which features giant robots as weapons of war rather than ‘superheroes’, a trope of its close relative, the ‘ super robot’.
Featuring an extensive lineup of individual shows, movies, spin-offs, manga, novels and even merchandise, there’s really no limit as to what the Mobile Suit Gundam metaverse can offer.
The idea of a ‘virtual world’ featuring Gundam also isn’t exactly new and current Gundam projects such as a Build Fighters series showcase concept. In the show, players gather in virtual worlds where they are able to pilot and even battle with the digitized version of their own physical Gunpla models.
With this move from BNE, this fantasy future might just be closer than we think.