Business · Companies · 32 mins ago
Bandai Namco to close Reflector Entertainment after Unknown 9 failure
Bandai Namco is closing Montreal-based Reflector Entertainment, the studio it acquired in 2020.
Reflector developed Unknown 9: Awakening, a 2024 supernatural action-adventure game starring Anya Chalotra.
The game was part of a wider franchise that also included novels, comics and a podcast.
It failed to meet expectations, and Reflector cut staff after launch and again in 2025, when it also cancelled a planned project.
Bandai Namco says it expects an extraordinary loss of about €21 million in its third-quarter results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027.
The company says it decided to close the studio after weighing future investment, profitability and whether the business could continue.
Bandai Namco is closing and liquidating Reflector Entertainment, the studio behind Unknown 9: Awakening.
The publisher expects to record an extraordinary loss of about €21 million in its third-quarter results.
Reflector was acquired by Bandai Namco in 2020.
The studio released Unknown 9: Awakening in 2024, but the game did not meet expectations.
Reflector had previously cut staff and cancelled a follow-up project.
- Who
- Bandai Namco is closing Reflector Entertainment, developer of Unknown 9: Awakening.
- What
- The publisher will dissolve and liquidate the studio and expects an extraordinary loss of about €21 million.
- When
- The closure was announced on November 10, 2026. The loss is expected in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027.
- Where
- Reflector is based in Montreal, Canada.
- Why
- Bandai Namco cited future business plans, required additional investment, and the prospects for profitability and continued operations. The studio’s game did not meet expectations.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Reflector was founded by Alexandre Amancio and Lune Rouge.
Bandai Namco acquired Reflector.
Reflector released Unknown 9: Awakening.
Reflector announced it had cut 18% of its workforce.
Reflector made further redundancies after deciding not to greenlight an unannounced project.
Bandai Namco announced it would dissolve and liquidate Reflector.
- Expected loss
- About €21 million
- Studio
- Reflector Entertainment
- Acquisition
- Bandai Namco acquired Reflector in 2020
- Game
- Unknown 9: Awakening, released in 2024
- Workforce cut
- 18% of staff, announced a month after launch
- Fiscal year end
- March 31, 2027
3 sources
What people are saying
after comprehensively considering future business plans, necessary additional investment, and the possibility of profitability and business continuation
This decision correlates directly with the failure of the studio's ambitious and courageous first project, a new IP with a rich transmedia universe.