Namco Bandai forms 'Surge' label, targets Western gamers
Namco Bandai has announced the formation of "Surge," a new studio and publishing label aimed at "providing cutting-edge, genre-defining games that are targeted at satiating the appetite of western gamers." Much like Square Enix's recent English-centric efforts, Namco hopes to tap into a wider market with several in-development IPs, the first of which are slated to arrive in 2009.
Andrew Lelchuk, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Namco Bandai Games America, dubs Surge a "creative force," one that promises to deliver "compelling content for the discriminating player who is looking for games that are not only groundbreaking but also push the envelope." Surge's first game that is not only groundbreaking but also pushes the envelope? Afro Samurai, due on January 27th, 2009.
