Bandai Banpresto

Banpresto Co., Ltd. was a Japanese video game development and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The company became known for developing and publishing arcade and console games as well as manufacturing toys and collectible products based on popular Japanese brands and characters. Banpresto also produced keychains, clothing, plastic models, and prize figures for arcade machines.

The company was founded in 1977 by entrepreneur Yasushi Matsuda under the name Hoei International. After a period as a contract developer under the name Coreland Technology, including work for Sega, the majority of the company was acquired by Bandai in 1989 following financial difficulties. The company was then renamed Banpresto and became Bandai’s arcade game division. With access to Bandai’s library of popular characters—such as Ultraman and Gundam—Banpresto quickly grew into one of Japan’s largest game publishers during the 1990s.

Among the company’s most successful game series are Super Robot Wars, Compati Hero, Summon Night, and Another Century’s Episode, as well as titles based on anime franchises such as Sailor Moon. Banpresto also operated amusement facilities in Japan and produced popular arcade prizes and collectible figures.

In 2006, Banpresto became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. In 2008, game development was integrated into Namco Bandai Games, while the toy and arcade prize business continued under the Banpresto brand. The company is widely regarded as influential in popularizing crossover games and licensed arcade titles in Japan.