Recently, a representative from Bandai Namco held a panel to discuss the company’s approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These policies have faced criticism recently due to concerns that they might prioritize social messaging over the quality and enjoyment of games.
Ms. Okuma Mirai, the representative from Bandai Namco, highlighted the company’s commitment to making their games accessible to a wide range of players. As an illustration, she mentioned the addition of dreadlock hairstyles to “Blue Protocol,” a consideration they had previously overlooked. However, it’s notable that “Blue Protocol” announced its end of service in Japan, and its global release has been canceled.
According to a recap from a Japanese site, Bandai Namco is thoroughly integrating DEI programs and information among its internal staff. The company’s strong ties with the United States and Europe have helped them gain valuable insights and knowledge on DEI matters.
Ms. Okuma also defended the localization practices, describing English and Western societies as “low-context” cultures that emphasize verbal expression due to their multicultural composition. This means straightforward translation from Japanese may sometimes miss the mark, necessitating thoughtful localization to ensure the context is appropriately conveyed.
Despite this approach, English-speaking consumers generally expect translations to honor the creator’s original vision. They tend to respond positively when localizations are done faithfully.
In the coming months, it will be interesting to see how Bandai Namco implements and represents these DEI values within their organization and their games.
