Bandai Namco Cancels One Piece In-Progress Video Game

On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, video game publisher Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. revealed several title cancellations, which included an anticipated One Piece game. At this point, it remains uncertain whether the title was actively in development, but it was discussed among other projects slated for cancellation or suspension.

Although it’s ambiguous which category the One Piece game belongs to, assuming a cancellation appears to be a reasonable conclusion, particularly given the mixed reception of the franchise’s Odyssey game. Adding to this is Bandai Namco’s adoption of traditional Japanese workforce reduction strategies that often result in employees being left without tasks.

Development of One Piece Game Halted by Bandai Namco Amid Staff Reductions through “Oidashi Beya”

The aforementioned workforce reduction methods, which hint at the complete cancellation of the One Piece game, are referred to as “oidashi beya,” which can be translated as “expulsion rooms.” Japanese firms frequently utilize these rooms to navigate the stringent labor protections imposed by the government—regarded as some of the most rigorous globally.

Typically, affected employees remain on the payroll but find themselves without any job responsibilities. As a result, many individuals placed in these expulsion rooms often spend their time searching for new employment opportunities, clearly indicating that their current company no longer requires their services.

A spokesperson for Bandai Namco stated, “there is no organization like an ‘oidashi beya’ at Bandai Namco Studios designed to pressure people to leave voluntarily.” Nevertheless, according to employees’ reports, approximately 200 out of the studio’s 1,300 staff members have been confined to expulsion rooms, with nearly 100 choosing to resign.

In addition to the One Piece project, other titles that have faced cancellation or delay include the mobile game Tales of the Rays, with Blue Protocol also slated for removal in January 2025. Furthermore, Bandai Namco has a project in collaboration with Nintendo that may either be completely scrapped or postponed. Similar actions have been taken by other publishers, such as Sony Group Corp., which ended its Concord online game just two weeks post-launch.

Bandai Namco was formed in 2005 through the merger of the renowned companies Namco and Bandai, with the latter acquiring the former for around US$1.7 billion. Namco, established in June 1955, is famous for producing iconic game franchises such as Pac-Man, Tekken, Tales, Ace Combat, and more. Bandai, founded in July 1950, initially gained fame as a toy manufacturer but has also created several notable video games.

The original manga series by author and illustrator Eiichiro Oda debuted in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in July 1997. The manga continues to be serialized today and is currently approaching its final saga. Toei Animation is responsible for the television adaptation of the series.

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