Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe has acquired Montreal-based Reflector Entertainment, which recently announced the video game Unknown 9: Awakening, from Lune Rouge Innovation as part of its strategy to develop 50 percent of its content outside of Japan, the company announced.
“Designing and developing the content we shall publish and distribute is the cornerstone of our strategy.” commented Arnaud Muller, COO of BNEE. “The creative vision and development capacity of Reflector Entertainment will boost BNEE’s ability to craft breathtaking experiences over the years. We look forward to working with such a skilled team, and to welcome them to the BNE family.”
This first strategic move in the Montreal based developer community highlights the implementation of Bandai Namco Entertainment’s Mid-term Plan that aims at strengthening each regional headquarters’ autonomy for greater expansion in global markets.
Founded in 2016 by Alexandre Amancio and Lune Rouge, Reflector Entertainment is focused on building Storyworlds that people can interact with across a variety of media, including videogames, novels, podcasts, movies, and much more.
Its Unknown 9 franchise, nurtured by its 120 talented employees, among which industry veterans behind some of the best AAA videogames coming from Canadian studios, was revealed to the public with, so far, the release of the first book in a novel trilogy written by the bestselling author Layton GREEN, along with podcast episodes, a comic book series, and most recently the highly anticipated videogame Unknown 9: Awakening.
“The reach to worldwide audiences and the endless entertainment possibilities offered by the synergies with BNEE and the rest of the group will provide a great long-term perspective for the team, here in Montreal” commented Alexandre Amancio.
“We believe this acquisition will enable Reflector Entertainment to deepen its transmedia vision to build amazing journeys, while expanding on the work already done on the Unknown 9 franchise and other projects,” said Robert Blain, President of Lune Rouge. “BNEE has an amazing team in place and their skills and knowledge of the industry will guarantee Reflector Entertainment a brilliant future.”
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2020. Upon closing of this acquisition, Alexandre Amancio will become Chief Creative Officer of Reflector Entertainment and will operate alongside Hervé Hoerdt, Vice President of Content, Marketing and Digital at BNEE, who will manage the transition as CEO.