Bandai Namco Opening Massive Arcade in Akihabara Taking Over Historical Sega Location

Over the previous few years, many followers had been saddened to listen to information in regards to the closure of a number of historic arcades in Tokyo and particularly within the otaku-centric city of Akihabara, however as we speak Bandai Namco introduced that it is opening a brand new one. 

On March 1, Bandai Namco will launch its Namco Akihabara retailer, the primary arcade owned by the corporate in Akihabara within the 68-year-long historical past of its arcade enterprise. 

Those that are acquainted with the placement will probably acknowledge the constructing portrayed within the mockup that got here with the press launch. The obvious distinction is that it was once purple. The situation, sandwiched between one of many primary exits of the native prepare station and the favored Radio Kaikan retailer, used to belong to the favored Sega Akihabara Arcade 4 earlier than it was rebranded into GiGO following the acquisition of the home of Sonic’s arcade enterprise in 2020. The shop was then lastly closed in September final yr. 

Now Bandai Namco is giving it new life providing loads of methods for followers to have enjoyable on the premises. To start with, the brand new facility guarantees one of many largest collections of arcade machines within the space, pledging to assist kind a brand new gaming neighborhood with occasions and promotions. Amongst these, we’ll discover a whopping 46 Cell Go well with Gundam Excessive Vs. 2 XBoost models on the primary underground ground. Bandai Namco plans to supply the sport’s thriving neighborhood a brand new location to assemble and luxuriate in devoted occasions.

The primary ground can have the same old UFO catchers on prime of the Ichiban Kuji Official Store Akihabara (Ichiban Kuji is a type of lottery extremely popular amongst otaku. Prospects buy tickets and obtain an on the spot prize, normally a determine or gadget from anime or video games) and the Banplayer Akiba Determine Assortment showroom the place Banpresto will exhibit its figures. 

The second ground can have extra UFO catchers, whereas the third ground will host arcade machines together with common video games like Taiko no Tatsujin and plenty of extra.

The fourth ground will host the Gashapon Bandai Official Store Akihabara which can specialize within the well-known random toy merchandising machines (not everybody is aware of that the Gashapon model is owned by Bandai). It will embrace a whopping 800 machines and it will be one of many largest within the Akihabara space. 

Lastly, the fifth ground will present a brand new location for buying and selling card recreation followers with DeckSta, brief for Decks Stadium, the place Bandai Namco will host occasions and tournaments devoted to its TCGs. 

By the way, between March 1 and March 12, the ability will host a trial occasion of the brand new Cell Go well with Gundam Excessive Vs. 2 OverBoost arcade recreation scheduled to formally launch in the summertime of 2023. 

Whereas we do not know whether or not Bandai Namco’s new arcade would possibly mark a resurgence of the arcade trade in Akihabara, it is actually good to see clear indicators of the city’s restoration following the troublesome years of the pandemic.