Bandai Namco Forge Digitals

Bandai Namco Forge Digitals Inc. is a Japanese video game development company within the Bandai Namco Group. The company is the successor to B.B. Studio, which itself was created in 2011 through the merger of two development organizations: BEC, originally associated with Bandai, and Banpresoft, a Banpresto development subsidiary. The business has therefore operated under several corporate identities while retaining a continuing role in the development of games based on Bandai Namco properties and other licensed entertainment franchises. One of its principal predecessors, BEC, began as a joint venture between Bandai and Human. It became known for developing licensed titles connected with major Bandai properties, including Digimon, Dragon Ball Z, and Mobile Suit Gundam. After Human entered bankruptcy in 2000, Bandai assumed full control of BEC. Following the creation of Bandai Namco Holdings through the merger of Bandai and Namco, BEC became part of the merged group’s video game development structure. The other major predecessor was Banpre Kikaku, a Banpresto subsidiary involved in game development. It was renamed Banpresoft in March 1997. Banpresoft established an internal development division in April 1998 and became particularly associated with the Super Robot Wars series, including Super Robot Wars Alpha and later entries. During the 2000s it expanded its operations, increased its capital, and moved its offices within Tokyo. Its development portfolio also included projects associated with series such as Summon Night and Ar tonelico, although some non-Super Robot Wars work was later transferred within Banpresto’s consumer organization. Banpresoft became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Games in May 2008. On April 1, 2011, Bandai Namco combined BEC and Banpresoft to streamline its development operations. The resulting company was named B.B. Studio. Although the 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, reflecting the group’s broader brand consolidation. In July 2024, B.B. Studio was reorganized as a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios, strengthening its position within the group’s game-development structure. On March 3, 2025, Bandai Namco announced that B.B. Studio would be renamed Bandai Namco Forge Digitals. The new name identifies the company as part of Bandai Namco’s contemporary digital-content and development network while preserving its historical connection to the group’s licensed-franchise and Japanese game-production businesses. The company’s publicly documented role is that of a development studio rather than a consumer-facing publisher or independently listed corporation. Its work has centered on console and other video game projects, especially titles using Bandai Namco intellectual property and established franchise ecosystems. Available reference material does not establish a separate public website, current executive roster, financial results, or a complete catalog of titles under the new name.

Bandai Namco Forge Digitals descends from two Japanese game-development organizations associated with Bandai and Banpresto. BEC, whose name derived from Bandai Entertainment Company, was established as a joint venture between Bandai and Human. It developed licensed games for Bandai, including projects connected with Digimon, Dragon Ball Z, and Mobile Suit Gundam. When Human became bankrupt in 2000, Bandai obtained full control of BEC. The company subsequently became part of the video game-development structure created after Bandai and Namco combined to form Bandai Namco Holdings. The second predecessor was Banpre Kikaku, a Banpresto subsidiary involved in video game production. It adopted the name Banpresoft in March 1997. In April 1998, Banpresoft created an internal development division that went on to produce games in the Super Robot Wars franchise, including Super Robot Wars Alpha and later installments. The company expanded during the early 2000s, raising its capital to 200 million yen in June 2002 and relocating to Komagata in Tokyo’s Taito ward in July 2005. In May 2007, it moved again, this time to Bandai Namco’s Miraiken building in Higashi-Shinagawa, Tokyo. Banpresoft reorganized its development teams in 2007. Work outside the Super Robot Wars line, including projects associated with Summon Night and Ar tonelico, was transferred to Banpresto’s consumer division. In May 2008, Banpresoft became wholly owned by Bandai Namco Games, bringing it more directly into the group’s integrated game-business structure. On April 1, 2011, Bandai Namco merged BEC and Banpresoft. The move was intended to simplify and unify development operations under one organization. The resulting company became B.B. Studio. Around the same period, the Banpresto name was repositioned in the group’s toys and hobby activities. B.B. Studio nevertheless continued to use the Banpresto name on some games until the group decided that new Bandai Namco video games would carry the Bandai Namco branding from February 2014. In July 2024, B.B. Studio was made a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios. On March 3, 2025, Bandai Namco announced the company’s new name, Bandai Namco Forge Digitals. The renaming marked the latest stage in the company’s long corporate evolution from Bandai- and Banpresto-linked development units into a studio aligned with Bandai Namco’s current digital-content organization. Its documented activities remain focused on video game development, particularly licensed and franchise-based projects. Public reference material does not provide a definitive current executive list, independent financial reporting, or a complete catalog of all games developed by the studio and its predecessor companies.

• 2025

  Company renamed Bandai Namco Forge Digitals

  [1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  Bandai Namco announced the change of name from B.B. Studio to Bandai Namco Forge Digitals on March 3.

• 2024

  B.B. Studio joins Bandai Namco Studios directly

  [1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  B.B. Studio was reorganized as a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios in July.

• 2014

  Bandai Namco branding becomes standard for new games

  [1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  From February, new Bandai Namco video games were to use the Bandai Namco name rather than the Banpresto name.

• 2011

  BEC and Banpresoft are merged

  [1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  Bandai Namco combined BEC and Banpresoft on April 1 to consolidate game-development operations. The resulting organization became B.B. Studio.

• 2008

  Banpresoft becomes wholly owned by Bandai Namco Games

  [1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  Banpresoft became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Games in May.

• 2002

  Banpresoft increases its capital

  [1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  Banpresoft’s capital was increased to 200 million yen during its expansion as a Banpresto development company.

• 2000

  Bandai takes full control of BEC

  [1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  After Human entered bankruptcy, Bandai assumed full control of BEC, one of the organizations that later contributed to B.B. Studio and Bandai Namco Forge Digitals.

A Bandai Namco Group development studio focused on Japanese console and licensed-franchise video games, with historical strengths in cross-franchise projects and long-running anime and robot properties.

• Strategy role-playing video game series

  Super Robot Wars

  The Super Robot Wars franchise is the best-documented major development association of Banpresoft, one of Bandai Namco Forge Digitals’ principal predecessor organizations. The series brings together mecha and robot properties from multiple Japanese franchises in crossover strategy role-playing games. Banpresoft established an internal development division in 1998 and produced Super Robot Wars Alpha and subsequent entries. The series became a central part of the company’s identity during the Banpresoft period.

• Licensed franchise video games

  Digimon-related games

  BEC, a predecessor of the current company, was known for developing licensed video games based on Digimon. The reference material identifies the franchise as part of BEC’s Bandai-associated development work, but does not provide a complete list of individual titles, platforms, release dates, or the extent of the current studio’s continuing involvement.

• Licensed franchise video games

  Dragon Ball Z-related games

  BEC also developed licensed games connected with Dragon Ball Z during its period as a Bandai-affiliated developer. These projects illustrate the studio lineage’s emphasis on adapting prominent manga and anime properties into video games. Available material does not specify a complete title list or identify which projects were developed after the later corporate mergers.

• Licensed franchise video games

  Mobile Suit Gundam-related games

  Mobile Suit Gundam was another major licensed property associated with BEC’s development work. The franchise connection reflects the company lineage’s role in producing games based on Bandai’s established character and entertainment properties. The supplied reference does not identify particular releases or describe the present company’s product plans under the Bandai Namco Forge Digitals name.

• 2025

  Renaming to Bandai Namco Forge DigitalsStrategy

  Background

  The company had operated as B.B. Studio since the 2011 merger of BEC and Banpresoft.

  Action taken

  Bandai Namco announced the company’s new name, Bandai Namco Forge Digitals, on March 3.

  Aftermath

  The renaming gave the studio a contemporary identity aligned with the Bandai Namco Group’s digital-content and game-development structure.

  Source

• 2024

  Direct-sub­sidiary reorganizationStrategy

  Background

  Bandai Namco reorganized its development-company structure.

  Action taken

  B.B. Studio became a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios in July.

  Aftermath

  The move placed the studio more directly within Bandai Namco Studios’ development organization.

  Source

• 2014

  Adoption of Bandai Namco branding for new gamesStrategy

  Background

  The group was aligning its video game identity under the Bandai Namco name while the Banpresto brand was being repositioned in the toys and hobby business.

  Action taken

  From February, new Bandai Namco video games were designated to use the Bandai Namco name rather than the Banpresto name.

  Aftermath

  B.B. Studio continued as a development organization, but its product branding became part of the broader Bandai Namco identity.

  Source

• 2011

  Consolidation of BEC and BanpresoftStrategy

  Background

  Bandai Namco sought to streamline and unify its game-development subsidiaries after the formation of the wider Bandai Namco organization.

  Action taken

  BEC and Banpresoft were merged on April 1, creating the organization subsequently known as B.B. Studio.

  Aftermath

  The merger created a consolidated development company that later became Bandai Namco Forge Digitals.

  Source

• 2025

  B.B. Studio renamed Bandai Namco Forge Digitals[1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Bandai Namco announced the renaming of B.B. Studio to Bandai Namco Forge Digitals on March 3, 2025.

• 2024

  B.B. Studio becomes a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios[1]Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Bandai Namco reorganized B.B. Studio as a direct subsidiary of Bandai Namco Studios, changing its position within the group’s development-company structure.

1. 1Bandai Namco Forge Digitalsen.wikipedia.org