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Bandai Namco Shuts Down Once-promising Studio after Colossal Failure
Polygon.com • • technology
Key Points:
- Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the shutdown of Reflector Entertainment, a studio it acquired in 2020, following the underperformance of its sole game, Unknown 9: Awakening.
- Unknown 9: Awakening, a supernatural stealth game featuring Anya Chalotra, received mixed reviews with a 59 Metascore on Metacritic and failed to meet expectations.
- Reflector was part of a larger Unknown 9 multimedia franchise, but after poor reception, Bandai Namco decided to dissolve the studio, incurring a €21 million loss in the third quarter.
- The studio faced significant layoffs starting in 2024, including a 18% staff reduction after the game's release and further cuts in early 2025, alongside the cancellation of a follow-up project.
- The closure of Reflector reflects broader industry challenges in 2026, a year marked by extensive layoffs with over 11,000 job losses reported across the video game sector.
