Bandai Entertainment Company
A Japanese video-game development company formerly known as BEC, associated with licensed Bandai properties including Digimon, Dragon Ball Z, and Mobile Suit Gundam.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Bandai Entertainment Company, generally abbreviated as BEC and also known as BEC Co., Ltd., was a Japanese video-game development company connected to Bandai's consumer-entertainment business. It was established as a joint venture between Bandai and Human, a Japanese game developer, and initially operated as a development partner for Bandai software. The company became particularly associated with licensed games based on major Bandai properties and media franchises, including Digimon, Dragon Ball Z, and Mobile Suit Gundam. BEC's corporate position changed after Human entered bankruptcy in 2000. Bandai subsequently took full control of the company, making BEC a wholly controlled development resource rather than a continuing joint venture. When Bandai and Namco combined to form Bandai Namco Holdings, BEC became part of the enlarged group's video-game development structure and continued working under the gaming business that later operated as Bandai Namco Entertainment. The company's later history is best understood as part of a broader consolidation of Bandai Namco's internal development companies. Banpre Kikaku, a Banpresto subsidiary, had previously developed games and changed its name to Banpresoft in March 1997. Banpresoft created an internal development division in April 1998 and became strongly identified with the Super Robot Wars series, including Super Robot Wars Alpha and later entries. During the 2000s, Banpresoft expanded its organization, increased its capital, moved offices within Tokyo, and reorganized development teams. Non-Super Robot Wars projects, including Summon Night and Ar tonelico-related work, were transferred to Banpresto's consumer division during a 2007 restructuring. Banpresoft became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Games in May 2008. On April 1, 2011, Bandai Namco merged BEC and Banpresoft to streamline its game-development subsidiaries. The resulting company was known as B.B. Studio Co., Ltd. and inherited development capabilities and personnel associated with both organizations. Although B.B. Studio continued to use the Banpresto name on some products for a period, Bandai Namco decided that new video games would use the Bandai Namco name from February 2014 onward. The Banpresto name was subsequently repositioned within Bandai Namco's toys and hobby activities. In July 2024, B.B. Studio moved from being a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Entertainment to becoming a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios. On March 3, 2025, Bandai Namco announced that B.B. Studio would be renamed Bandai Namco Forge Digitals. Accordingly, Bandai Entertainment Company is a historical corporate identity rather than an active standalone brand. Its principal legacy is its role in Bandai's licensed-game development and its contribution to the development organization that ultimately became Bandai Namco Forge Digitals.
History
Bandai Entertainment Company, abbreviated BEC, was formed as a joint venture between Bandai and Human for video-game development. Its work centered on producing games for Bandai, particularly software using recognizable licensed properties. The company became associated with Digimon, Dragon Ball Z, and Mobile Suit Gundam, reflecting Bandai's broader strategy of extending character and media franchises into interactive entertainment. Human's bankruptcy in 2000 changed BEC's ownership structure. Bandai took full control of the company, after which BEC operated as a Bandai-controlled development subsidiary. The later merger of Bandai and Namco created Bandai Namco Holdings and placed BEC within the merged group's expanding game-development organization. BEC therefore continued as part of a larger corporate network rather than as an independent publisher with a separately documented consumer-facing identity. A parallel development occurred at Banpresto. Banpre Kikaku, a Banpresto subsidiary, changed its name to Banpresoft in March 1997. In April 1998, Banpresoft established an internal development division that produced games including Super Robot Wars Alpha and subsequent Super Robot Wars titles. The company expanded during the 2000s, raising its capital to 200 million yen in June 2002 and moving its Tokyo operations to Komagata in July 2005. In May 2007, it relocated to the Bandai Namco Miraiken building in Higashi-Shinagawa. A 2007 reorganization moved non-Super Robot Wars projects, including Summon Night and Ar tonelico-related work, to Banpresto's consumer division. Banpresoft became wholly owned by Bandai Namco Games in May 2008. On April 1, 2011, Bandai Namco combined BEC and Banpresoft to simplify its internal development structure. The merged operation became B.B. Studio Co., Ltd. and carried forward the capabilities of both predecessor organizations. The Banpresto name continued to appear on products for several years, but Bandai Namco announced that its video games would use the Bandai Namco name from February 2014 onward. Banpresto was subsequently restored as a brand within the toys and hobby business rather than remaining the principal game-development identity. The successor organization changed corporate alignment again in July 2024, when B.B. Studio became a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios instead of remaining under Bandai Namco Entertainment. On March 3, 2025, Bandai Namco announced a further renaming of B.B. Studio as Bandai Namco Forge Digitals. BEC is consequently a discontinued historical name whose institutional legacy survives through the successor company and the wider Bandai Namco development network.
- 2025
B.B. Studio became Bandai Namco Forge Digitals
[1]Bandai Namco announced the successor's new name on March 3, 2025.
- 2024
B.B. Studio moved under Bandai Namco Studios
[1]The successor became a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios in July 2024.
- 2014
Bandai Namco became the standard game label
[1]From February 2014, Bandai Namco video games were planned to carry the Bandai Namco name rather than the Banpresto name.
- 2011
BEC and Banpresoft were merged
[1]Bandai Namco merged the two development companies on April 1, 2011, producing the successor B.B. Studio.
- 2008
Banpresoft became wholly owned by Bandai Namco Games
[1]Banpresoft was made a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Games in May 2008.
- 2002
Banpresoft increased its capital
[1]Banpresoft increased its capital to 200 million yen in June 2002.
- 2000
Bandai assumed full control of BEC
[1]Human's bankruptcy ended the original joint-venture structure, and Bandai took full control of BEC.
- 1998
Banpresoft established an internal development division
[1]Banpresoft launched an internal development division that produced Super Robot Wars Alpha and later entries in the series.
- 1997
Banpre Kikaku became Banpresoft
[1]The Banpresto subsidiary Banpre Kikaku changed its corporate name to Banpresoft, establishing one of the predecessor organizations later combined with BEC.
Products and positioning
A first-party and partner development company focused on producing video games for Bandai-owned or Bandai-licensed entertainment properties.
Licensed franchise games
Digimon video games
BEC was associated with developing licensed video games based on Digimon, one of Bandai's major character and media properties. These projects formed part of the company's role as a development resource for Bandai-branded entertainment franchises rather than as an independent creator of a single original product line.
Licensed franchise games
Dragon Ball Z video games
BEC developed licensed games connected with Dragon Ball Z for Bandai. The work illustrates the company's focus on translating popular Japanese media properties into interactive software for Bandai's consumer-entertainment portfolio.
Licensed franchise games
Mobile Suit Gundam video games
The company was also known for developing licensed Mobile Suit Gundam games. These titles extended one of Bandai's central science-fiction franchises into video games and contributed to BEC's identity as a specialist in property-driven development.
Brand decisions
2025
Renaming of B.B. Studio as Bandai Namco Forge DigitalsStrategyBackground
B.B. Studio had become a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios in 2024.
Action taken
Bandai Namco announced the company's renaming to Bandai Namco Forge Digitals on March 3, 2025.
Aftermath
The BEC corporate legacy continued under a new successor identity rather than as an active standalone BEC company.
2014
Standardization on the Bandai Namco game nameStrategyBackground
B.B. Studio continued using the Banpresto name on some products after the 2011 merger.
Action taken
Bandai Namco decided that video games released from February 2014 onward would use the Bandai Namco name.
Aftermath
The Banpresto identity was repositioned toward toys and hobby products, while Bandai Namco became the principal game label.
2011
Merger of BEC and BanpresoftM&ABackground
Bandai Namco sought to streamline and unify its game-development subsidiaries after the Bandai-Namco combination.
Action taken
BEC and Banpresoft were merged on April 1, 2011, forming B.B. Studio.
Aftermath
The successor consolidated development functions associated with both companies and operated within Bandai Namco's game business.
2000
Bandai took full control of BECStrategyBackground
BEC had originated as a joint venture between Bandai and Human. Human's bankruptcy changed the basis on which the company operated.
Action taken
Bandai assumed full control of BEC and continued it as a controlled game-development subsidiary.
Aftermath
BEC became more directly integrated into Bandai's internal development organization and later into the Bandai Namco group.
Recent events
- 2025
B.B. Studio was renamed Bandai Namco Forge Digitals[1]
Leadership change · Other
Bandai Namco announced on March 3, 2025, that the successor company B.B. Studio would change its name to Bandai Namco Forge Digitals.
- 2024
B.B. Studio became a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios[1]
M&A
In July 2024, the successor company B.B. Studio was transferred from Bandai Namco Entertainment to direct ownership by Bandai Namco Studios.
- 2011
BEC and Banpresoft were merged into a unified development company[1]
M&A
Bandai Namco merged BEC with Banpresoft on April 1, 2011, creating a more unified structure for its game-development operations.
- 2000
Human's bankruptcy led Bandai to take full control of BEC[1]
Other
After BEC's joint-venture partner Human became bankrupt, Bandai assumed full control of the development company.
Sources1 sources
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