Latest news with #Tekken
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Faker extends contract with T1 through 2029 and confirms no plans to retire from League of Legends
Faker has extended his contract with T1 through the 2029 competitive season, confirming that he has no intention of retiring from professional League of Legends in the near future. Widely regarded as the greatest League of Legends player of all time, Faker has competed in nine World Championship finals and secured five titles. He continues to draw record-breaking viewership for Riot Games, with his appearances at Worlds 2023 and 2024 contributing to the most-watched esports events to date. Despite concerns about the long-term sustainability of professional leagues and the future of competitive League of Legends, Faker remains a consistent presence. T1's confirmation of his contract extension through to the end of 2029 offers reassurance to fans and observers of the esports industry. Faker has faced challenges with physical health in recent years, particularly with wrist issues, but he is working to maintain a training routine that allows for proper recovery. He remains focused on long-term performance. While speculation continues about how long he can compete at the top level, comparisons have been made to other veteran esports players, including Tekken champion Knee and Counter-Strike player Karrigan, both of whom have remained competitive into their 30s and 40s.
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Sony buys stake in ‘Gundam' owner to grow anime business
[TOKYO] Sony has bought a strategic 2.5 per cent stake in Japanese game franchise giant Bandai Namco, which owns Gundam and arcade classic Pac-Man, with a view to growing its anime business. Booming global appetite for Japanese animation has become a money-spinner for Sony, which acquired online anime library Crunchyroll in 2021. 'As two of the leading Japanese entertainment companies, Bandai Namco and Sony will focus on expanding the fan community... and strengthening engagement, particularly in the anime field where rapid market growth is anticipated,' said a joint statement released Thursday. With the 68 billion yen (S$588.7 million) transaction, the companies plan 'to create new and emotionally moving experiences for fans', it said. Sony's rival Nintendo already owns a 1.8 per cent stake in Bandai Namco, which also publishes the games Elden Ring and Tekken, said Atul Goyal, equity analyst at Jefferies. 'Building on joint intellectual property successes like Gundam SEED FREEDOM and Demon Slayer, the move aims to reinforce Sony's upstream IP strategy and Bandai Namco's global expansion push,' Goyal wrote. 'While there is no immediate earnings impact, the move strengthens Sony's positioning as a central hub in Japan's anime and IP value chain.' AFP
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sony Pays $464M For Stake In ‘Pac-Man' Owner Bandai Namco
Sony Corp. has taken a small stake in Tekken and Pac-Man games giant Bandai Namco, as part of a strategic business alliance. Japan-based Sony paid 68 billion yen ($464M) for a 2.5% stake in its compatriot company, which is also the owner of the Soulcalibur, Elden Ring and Dark Rings franchises. More from Deadline Sony Pictures Television Leaning Into Creator Economy With Hire Of Digital Boss Matt Ford Sky New Zealand Buys Local Warner Bros Discovery Channels For 60 Cents 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' Debut Smashes Japan Box Office Records The strategic alliance resulting from the investment will see the two companies seek to tap further into the booming global market for Japanese content and anime franchises. They will 'focus on expanding the fan community for IP such as anime and manga around the world and strengthening engagement, particularly in the anime field where rapid market growth is anticipated,' according to a statement. In an even more corporate-sounding statement, Toshimoto Mitomo, Chief Strategy Officer, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Group Corporation, said: 'The Bandai Namco Group promotes an 'IP axis strategy' that aims to maximize IP value by leveraging the appeal and worldview of IP, providing the optimal products and services at the optimal timing in the optimal regions. 'We are filled with excitement about the potential to create new entertainment by combining Sony Group's strengths and technological capabilities across various entertainment fields with Bandai Namco's IP axis strategy. Through this collaboration, we aim to connect with IP fans worldwide, co-create the future together, and realize our purpose, 'Fun for All into the Future,' and mid- to long-term vision, 'Connect with Fans.'' The announcement makes no reference to the likes of Pac-Man and Elder Scrolls, but with the likes of Fallout, The Last of Us and Twisted Metal all cutting through as TV shows in recent years, it will be interesting to see how this develops. We've reached out to Sony for of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About Season 3 Of 'Euphoria' So Far 'Wednesday' Season 2: Everything We Know About The Cast, Premiere Date & More Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Sony acquires stake in Bandai Namco, the company behind Pac-Man and Elden Ring: What it means
Sony is the brand behind PS5 and PlayStation at large, and has been making games for several decades. Over the years, Sony has invested heavily in other studios and publishers, and now the company has taken yet another step by investing in Bandai Namco. This is the same publisher behind games such as Pac-Man, Tekken, and recent classics like Elden Ring (made by From Software). Sony's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.(Reuters) Sony announced this via a press release, describing it as a strategic partnership between Bandai Namco and Sony. As part of the deal, it has acquired 16 million Bandai Namco shares for approximately 68 billion yen, which works to around $464 million. Notably, this is not Sony's only recent strategic investment. The company has recently invested in several other domains, including an investment in FromSoftware's parent company, Kadokawa, after which the company acquired a 10% stake for approximately $300 million. Here is what Sony and Bandai Namco had to say "Through this business alliance and Sony's investment in Bandai Namco, as two of the leading Japanese entertainment companies, Bandai Namco and Sony will focus on expanding the fan community for IP such as anime and manga around the world and strengthening engagement, particularly in the anime field where rapid market growth is anticipated, while merging their strengths to create new and emotionally moving experiences for fans, and as a result of these efforts maximize the value of IP,' Sony said in a press release. Sony added, 'Bandai Namco and Sony have historically collaborated on various projects in the fields such as games, anime and music, and they plan to extend this collaboration to a broader range of areas. The two companies intend to implement initiatives including the expansion of works as well as products and services based on IP developed by Bandai Namco, leveraging Sony's strengths in areas such as the production and distribution of anime and other video content, as well as merchandising.' Bandai Namco's Nobuhiko Momoi said, 'The Bandai Namco Group promotes an 'IP axis strategy; that aims to maximize IP value by leveraging the appeal and worldview of IP, providing the optimal products and services at the optimal timing in the optimal regions. Momoi also added that Bandai Namco is "filled with excitement about the potential to create new entertainment by combining Sony Group's strengths and technological capabilities across various entertainment fields with Bandai Namco's IP axis strategy. Through this collaboration, we aim to connect with IP fans worldwide, co-create the future together, and realize our Purpose, 'Fun for All into the Future,' and Mid- to Long-term Vision, 'Connect with Fans.'' MOBILE FINDER: iPhone 16 LATEST Price
Tokyo Weekender
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
73-Year-Old Grandma Wins Tekken 8 Tournament as Panda
A fierce Tekken 8 tournament featuring players aged between 60 and 90 is gaining attention across Japan, and reshaping what many thought possible for senior citizens in gaming. The event, hosted by the Care e-Sports Association , brought together elderly residents from multiple care homes to compete online in one of the world's most fast-paced fighting games. What began as a small initiative to engage seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic has now evolved into a full-fledged movement, challenging assumptions about aging, digital literacy and the scope of competitive gaming. List of Contents: From Shogi to Tekken More Than a Game A New Vision of Aging Related Posts From Shogi to Tekken Founded in 2019, the Care eSports Association initially organized events centered around classic games such as Shogi and Othello. Five years later, it took a bold step: introducing Tekken 8 to its lineup. The decision was driven in part by the association's PR representative, Shinpei Hama, who also competes professionally in Tekken 8 as part of the Rox3Gaming team. 'Some of the participants are living with dementia, but many really enjoyed the game,' said Hama in an interview with Game Spark . 'As they chose characters, they seemed to get more attached to them. Some players practiced with passion, saying they wanted to win at least once. They had about a month to practice before the event, and a few of them stayed up late into the night, playing about 60 games.' The livestreamed Amigo Club Cup Tekken 8 Finals racked up significant viewership online. 'The response was bigger than anything we've done before,' said Hama. 'Even voice actors and game streamers reached out with praise.' More Than a Game Beyond entertainment, the tournament sparked deep emotional engagement. Some participants were living with cognitive decline, and were able to find joy, attachment and drive through the game. Champion Yoshie Murabe, who had never played video games before, chose Panda as her fighter simply because she likes pandas. Asked by Game Spark about her feelings after the tournament, she said, 'I was happy to win.' While practicing, she said she got the hang of the game quite easily, adding that there wasn't anything in particular she 'found difficult.' During the game, Murabe's only thoughts were to win, and she looks forward to competing in upcoming tournaments beyond Tekken 8 . A New Vision of Aging The success of the Tekken 8 tournament could open new doors for the elderly. Hama hopes to explore more accessible titles, such as GeoGuessr , in future events. 'We've realized seniors are better at video games than we assumed,' he said. 'We still plan to host traditional games like Shogi, but we also want to try something that really breaks the mold.' The tournament didn't just showcase the digital skills of the older generation, it proved that competitive spirit and emotional engagement don't fade with age. The Care eSports Association is turning gaming into a meaningful, intergenerational bridge and the players are ready for that. Related Posts Middle-Aged Man Trading Cards Go Viral in Rural Japan Town Nike Collaborates With Tekken To Produce a Shoe Befitting a Main Protagonist Kick Back With Some Cocktails at This Tekken 8 Bar in Kyoto
