A 2005 merger of toy giant Bandai and arcade pioneer Namco into one of the world's largest entertainment groups
QUICK FACTS
Est. 2005 — best known for toys, video games, and anime merchandise.
HISTORY
Bandai and Namco each had long, separate histories before combining. Namco began in 1955 as Nakamura Seisakusho, a small operator of coin-operated rides on Tokyo department store rooftops, and grew into an arcade-game powerhouse world-famous for Pac-Man (1980). Bandai, founded in 1950 as a toy trading company, became one of Japan's largest toy makers, known for Gundam plastic models ('Gunpla') and merchandise tied to anime and tokusatsu franchises.
In September 2005, the two companies merged to form Namco Bandai Holdings, later renamed Bandai Namco Holdings in 2006, combining Bandai's toy and character-licensing strength with Namco's game-development expertise. The group now spans video games (Pac-Man, Tekken, Tales, Elden Ring co-publishing), toys, and anime production, and remains one of Japan's largest entertainment conglomerates.
PRODUCTS
Namco's 1980 arcade classic, one of gaming's most recognizable characters
Long-running 3D fighting game series since 1994
Bandai's plastic model kits based on the Gundam anime franchise
TIMELINE
This page is compiled from publicly available company history and is provided for general reference only. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please consult the brand's official website.