No more hardware ventures for Bandai

Japanese toy maker Bandai is pulling out of the game hardware market for good, and plans to continue its focus on developing games for other manufacturer's platforms, according to president Takeo Takasu.

Speaking with Japanese daily newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, Takasu-san said that the company will continue to leverage its library of animation and character licenses (which include the current Japanese chart-topper Neon Genesis Evangelion along with the likes of Gundam and Digimon) to develop for multiple platforms.

Bandai's ambitions in the hardware space rarely made it outside Japan, although its most recent venture, the WonderSwan handheld console, did enjoy a certain measure of success in the Far East thanks to software support from companies including Squaresoft.

Takasu's emphasis on development for multiple platforms is relevant, of course, since the company has recently been at the centre of intense speculation over the possibility of close business links with Nintendo, since the Kyoto-based console manufacturer became one of its largest shareholders last month.

However, despite this, Bandai will be continuing to deal with videogame hardware manufacturers on equal terms, according to Takasu - who even suggested that the company would consider developing software for Microsoft's Xbox if its Japanese market share improved.

Further Reading: [Bandai Swears Off Videogame Hardware - 1up]