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Nintendo Acquires Splatoon, Pokémon Snap Developer

Nintendo Acquires Splatoon, Pokémon Snap Developer
Nintendo acquiring Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, developer of Splatoon and Pokémon Snap.

Nintendo is making a monumental move to solidify its in-house development capabilities, announcing the full acquisition of Bandai Namco Studios Singapore. This strategic purchase of a studio known for its significant contributions to titles like Splatoon 3 and New Pokémon Snap marks a pivotal moment for the gaming giant, further integrating a trusted partner into its first-party ecosystem. The developer will soon be rebranded as Nintendo Studios Singapore, signaling a new era of collaborative game creation.

A Strategic Alliance Deepens

In an investor statement released this morning, Nintendo confirmed a share transfer agreement with Bandai Namco for the Singapore-based studio. The initial phase of this acquisition will see Nintendo purchase 80% of Bandai Namco Studios Singapore's shares on April 1, 2026. The remaining 20% is slated for acquisition "after a certain period," allowing for the new subsidiary's operations to stabilize under the Nintendo banner. This phased approach underscores Nintendo's deliberate strategy in integrating key creative talent.

From Singapore to Smash: A History of Collaboration

While Nintendo often keeps its external development partnerships under wraps, the prolific contributions of the Singapore team are well-documented within game credits. The studio was instrumental in the development of 2022's hit Splatoon 3 and served as the lead developer for 2021's critically acclaimed New Pokémon Snap. Furthermore, the team had a brief, though notable, involvement with Metroid Prime 4 before its development was famously restarted at Retro Studios. Beyond this particular studio, the broader Bandai Namco entity has maintained a robust relationship with Nintendo, with other internal teams contributing to iconic titles such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokkén Tournament.

Nintendo's Growing First-Party Empire

This latest acquisition is not an isolated incident but rather a clear continuation of Nintendo's recent trend of bringing long-standing external partners fully into its fold. The past few years have seen a steady stream of strategic purchases:

  • Early 2021: Nintendo acquired Vancouver-based Next Level Games, the acclaimed studio behind Luigi's Mansion 3.
  • February 2022: Long-time development partner SRD was integrated into Nintendo's structure.
  • Late 2024: Nintendo increased its stake in Monolith Soft, known for Xenoblade and co-development on Zelda titles, to achieve 100% ownership.
  • 2022: Mo-cap and CGI specialist studio Dynamo Pictures was acquired and subsequently rebranded as Nintendo Pictures, now focused on producing "visual content utilizing Nintendo IP," with a surprise Pikmin short film serving as a recent example.

What's Next for Nintendo Studios Singapore?

The immediate projects for the newly christened Nintendo Studios Singapore remain undisclosed. However, given their profound history with the Splatoon franchise, it's a reasonable assumption that the team could once again lend their expertise to future Splatoon installments. Intriguingly, the source data highlights the upcoming Splatoon: Raiders as already announced for the Nintendo Switch 2, suggesting a potential role for the newly acquired studio in this anticipated title. This acquisition undeniably positions Nintendo to exert even greater creative control and leverage familiar talent for its most beloved franchises, signaling an exciting future for players worldwide.