Bandai Namco

Digital Transformation for Gaming Industry Pioneer

THE CHALLENGE

As a legendary gaming company with a portfolio spanning from classic titles like Pac-Man to modern blockbusters like Elden Ring, Bandai Namco faced unique e-commerce challenges. The company needed to bridge the gap between traditional gaming retail and modern digital commerce while managing complex pre-order systems, digital rights, and merchandise programs across multiple game franchises. This required careful consideration of both technical capabilities and brand integrity across global markets.

PLATFORM TRANSFORMATION

The decision to migrate from Scalefast to BigCommerce represented an opportunity to rebuild Bandai Namco's entire digital ecosystem. The new platform needed to handle everything from digital game code distribution to physical collector's editions, while maintaining the high standards expected by the gaming community. This required custom development work to handle the unique aspects of gaming e-commerce:

• Digital product delivery
• Pre-order management
• Credit card vaulting
• Steam code distribution
• Multi-currency support
• Global compliance

MERCHANDISE STRATEGY

Merchandise development for gaming properties requires a delicate balance between fan expectations, brand guidelines, and commercial viability. We developed a comprehensive program that expanded beyond traditional gaming merchandise into lifestyle products while maintaining the authentic connection to each game franchise. Working closely with IP holders in Japan, we created products that resonated with both casual and hardcore fans:

• Character merchandise
• Game-specific collections
• Limited editions
• Global sourcing
• IP compliance
• Quality control

DIGITAL MARKETING

Gaming audiences demand authentic, timely communication that respects their connection to the franchises they love. Our digital marketing strategy focused on creating meaningful touchpoints throughout the customer journey, from pre-launch hype to post-release engagement. We developed a comprehensive system that could handle both scheduled releases and surprise announcements:

• Email automation
• Pre-order campaigns
• Launch coordination
• Newsletter redesign
• Content strategy
• Performance tracking