Namco Networks
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile games |
| Founded | January 1, 2006 |
| Fate | Merged with Namco Hometek to form Bandai Namco Games America in 2011 |
| Headquarters | San Jose , United States |
Area served | North America, Europe, Asia |
| Products | Mobile games, including adaptations of classic Namco franchises |
Number of employees | 100+ (2007) |
Namco Networks was a mobile game developer and publisher headquartered in San Jose, California, operating in the United States. Established on January 1, 2006, as the mobile division of Namco America, the company created mobile titles for markets across North America, Europe, and Asia, including adaptations of classic Namco franchises. Its debut product was a Pac-Man adaptation designed for the iPod, part of an initial lineup consisting of nine games. A significant achievement for Namco Networks was its licensed version of Scene It? Movies, recognized as one of the earliest North American mobile games to incorporate downloadable streaming video features. In 2011, Namco Networks combined operations with Namco Hometek to form Bandai Namco Games America, which was rebranded as Bandai Namco Entertainment America in 2015.
History
The company’s roots trace back to 2003 when it functioned as the mobile gaming segment of Namco America. Following the acquisition by Bandai Namco Holdings, the division was renamed Namco Networks. Initially, the team was small, with only four full-time employees in 2004 and primarily depended on outsourced developers. However, by 2007, the workforce had grown to over 100 staff members, establishing dedicated internal teams for development and marketing. The introduction of app stores after the iPhone’s debut led to a decline in its market standing due to the transition away from carrier-based publishing models. In November 2010, Namco Networks reduced its workforce by 90 employees and revealed plans to transfer development responsibilities to its Japanese counterpart within Bandai Namco Games.