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SUMMARY

  • According to a recent report, Bandai Namco has canceled multiple future gaming projects, including a game based on One Piece.
  • This news has frustrated the fans as they claim Bandai Namco has never done justice to One Piece regarding their gaming production.
  • Fans believe a legendary series like One Piece could also achieve tremendous success if their games were produced with the same care as Dragon Ball Z's.

Dragon Ball‘s influence is undeniable, whether it’s in anime, manga, or the gaming industry. From its iconic Budokai and Tenkaichi series to the massively popular Dragon Ball FighterZ, Bandai Namco has successfully launched games that captivated fans of the Dragon Ball franchise worldwide. Yet, Bandai Namco’s effort in the One Piece game has been lax despite the series’ overwhelming popularity.

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 | Credit: Bandai Namco

The decision by Bandai Namco to halt production on many anime-related games, including one based on One Piece, has recently incited controversy among the fan base. The cancellation of One Piece projects has particularly raised eyebrows, especially when fans believe that the series has the potential to rival Dragon Ball Z in the gaming sphere; if only it followed the same successful formula.

Bandai Namco’s Cancellation of One Piece Game

According to Bloomberg reports, Bandai Namco has recently canceled multiple anime-related games, including those for One Piece and Naruto, as part of a broader restructuring effort. This restructuring includes not only the cancellation of future projects but also a reduction in staff, by placing employees in “idle rooms” to pressure them into quitting.

Bandai Namco has cancelled development on multiple games, including ones related to ‘ONE PIECE’ and ‘NARUTO’

They are also reducing staff through a traditional Japanese approach by “sending workers to rooms where they are given nothing to do, putting pressure on them to leave… pic.twitter.com/S4cgyoeCxY

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 15, 2024

Fans of One Piece are particularly disappointed by this news. It seems absurd that One Piece, the manga series with the highest sales in history, isn’t getting the same attention in the video game industry as Dragon Ball Z. However, the cancellation exposes a deeper problem: Bandai Namco’s track record of producing lackluster One Piece games.

 World SeekerOne Piece: World Seeker | Credit: Bandai Namco

A lot of the earlier One Piece games fell short of capturing the spirit of the series. Reviews for games like One Piece: World Seeker and One Piece: Burning Blood were mixed; they were often criticized for having flimsy gaming mechanics, poor narratives, and lacking the capacity to really bring the One Piece universe to life.

On the other hand, Dragon Ball Z video games have always featured intense fighting, large-scale storylines, and an accurate portrayal of the popular characters and scenes from the anime.

One Piece Fans Disappointmented by Bandai Namco

Simply put, the frustration with Bandai Namco’s handling of the series in the video game industry is what led to the cancellation of the One Piece game. Although One Piece fans know the game has the potential to be just as successful as Dragon Ball Z, they keep getting poor releases that fall short of their expectations.

Despite the fact that One Piece has an even larger and more devoted fan base than Dragon Ball Z, Bandai Namco appears hesitant to fully invest in the series.

one piece could do dragonball numbers when it comes to games if you would give the fans what they want, stop putting out trash and expecting people to accept the bare minimum, one piece is the best selling manga in the world fans exist and will BUY something that’s WORTH IT. https://t.co/KMXAwRXsGO

— Geo (@Geo_AW) October 15, 2024

exactly this, if they will make a game like sparking zero for one piece, it will sell the same if not even more, they just need to make a Good one piece game!.

— shay (@shay2242) October 15, 2024

it has all the potential but they never capitalize on it.

even naruto has better games than one piece 😭

— Angelica Reed (@Angelica_Reed1) October 15, 2024

Bro, just imagine if open world, RPG-style, character-based video games existed for the big 3, and we could live in a world where all 3 get the proper service they deserve instead of boring arena fighter games

— Fayde (@MorbidFayde) October 16, 2024

One Piece has all the ingredients needed to make a blockbuster video game franchise. With a sprawling world, a diverse and colorful cast of characters, and intense action sequences, the series offers endless possibilities for a successful video game adaptation. Yet, Bandai Namco has consistently fallen short in delivering a One Piece game that meets fan expectations.

One PieceOne Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

It is now up to Bandai Namco to realize One Piece‘s unrealized potential and create a game deserving of its legendary reputation. What One Piece fans want is a game that embodies the magic, adventure, and friendship of the anime, not just the bare minimum. If Bandai Namco succeeds in doing so, the series may eventually ascend to the same gaming heights as Dragon Ball Z.

Dragon Ball Z games are currently available on Steam.

Bandai NamcoDragon Ball ZOne Piece

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Written by Moumita Chakraborty

Articles Published: 208

Moumita Chakraborty is an experienced content writer with a deep love for the colorful world of the Japanese anime industry. With an attention to detail and a solid understanding of anime culture, Moumita creates engaging articles, and analyses that hold readers' attention. Her writing explores the complex plots and character arcs that represent the genre in addition to highlighting the most recent releases and trends. Moumita hopes to foster ties with other anime lovers and add to the growing fandom through her work.