Namco Bandai to publish Heavenly Sword-dev Ninja Theory's next IP

While light on details, Namco Bandai just used its GamesCom press conference to announce a partnership with Ninja Theory, the developer of the PS3 exclusive Heavenly Sword. Namco Bandai will publish "an original, new IP" from the UK-based developer for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles. Though they're not sharing any information on the new project (not even a name, fellas?) they did say it would be "released in 2010" with "more details" being "divulged in the coming months."

Makoto Iwai, executive veep and COO at Namco Bandai Games America, said of the parnership, "With producers from our North American office working closely with such a strong European development studio, we will be able to create a blockbuster title with strong pan-Western sensibilities and appeal for a global gaming audience." Of course, Namco Bandai's focus on Western-developed titles "with strong pan-Western sensibilities" isn't new ... but let's hope development of the as-yet-unnamed Ninja Theory title goes more smoothly than Splatterhouse.

Reader Comments (21)

Heavenly Sword 2 please ! The first one was a really good ps3 launch game, at a time when almost nobody made a game as good !
so please Sony bring back Heavenly Sword !

I saw _Heavenly Sword_ and my heart skipped a beat.

Still hoping for HS2.

me too. i REALLY want a Heavenly Sword 2. that game was seriously amazing. the gameplay was fun, the bosses were great, the voice acting was among the best i've ever heard in a game (Andy Serkis was amazing, along with Fringe star Anna Torv), and the graphics were great too. the only knock against it was the length and it's still one of the best games on PS3 IMHO. certainly worth at least a rent if you haven't played it yet.

Let's hope it's longer this time.

Longer? I wish that HS was shorter, actually. I got bored after the first 3 or so hours. Honestly, the gameplay was average-to-frustrating (fuck that twing-twang aftertouch bullshit!) that I wish I could have just watched the cutscenes (which included some of the best voicework ever) instead of playing the game.

You all should read more. It's a new, original IP and thus it's NOT Heavenly Sword 2. However, this is good news anyway as I see it.

i think most of the comments if you read them are expressing the disappointment that it's a new IP and not Heavenly Sword 2 (all but the first comment anyway). but the new IP could be even better, so who knows.

yeah is dissappointment thou one of them did say he hoped it would be shorter, referring to HS, but that was only to get to the point: he hated HS.

Anyways, hopefully, after reading all these whish comments, these guys would realize HS is very demanded after the wave of hack and slahs action game ends mid next year, there will be hunger for such.

Such a shame that Ninja Theory didn't want to touch Heavenly Sword again. HS was one of the better games I've played in years. Still wish they would put trophy support in so I can have an excuse to play it again...and again.

Well, Sony own the Heavenly Sword IP, so they could get one of their teams (or some third party developer) to make it.

Dunno why they don't, to be honest. It sold decently enough.

I loved Heavenly Sword i thought it was a great game i really don't see why people hate it. well since their are partnering to make a 360 PS3 game then i would love too see a Heavenly Sword 2 made by the creators of God Of War 3... yea i would love it from the people who made the 1st 2 GOW games but we all know they broken up .. or at least the main guy behind it.

Heavenly Sword will always have a place in my heart

yea i wonder if Sony owns the IP or if Ninja Theory does. if Sony owns it, then they certainly could push it off to the Santa Monica Studios team to make Heavenly Sword 2. i wouldn't hold my breathe but it would certainly be awesome.

Heavenly Sword was a good game. Wish this were Heavenly Sword 2.

Good news for the New IP....BAD News that there is NO News about Heavenly Sword 2....

I also would love a new Heavenly sword. It was the only game on my PS3 I simply could not put down until I beat it.

I really need to find me a copy of heavenly sword. It was the demo I used to play in the stores before I got my ps3 and once I got the console I forgot all about buying the game.

Godly Dagger confirmed.

WE DEMAND MOAR KAI!

Ninja Theory posted some post apocalyptic concept art showing what their next IP would be. I think it was about a year ago or so. I wonder if they abandoned that idea to do whatever Namco wants, or if Namco is buying into the concept they showed a year ago?

Either way, I wish there was a Heavenly Sword 2 as well.

Good to see Ninja Theory survived the lackluster performance of Heavenly Sword, hopefully they learned from the experience.

Misleading headline FTL :(
I also hoped a new Heavenly Sword title would come.
Loved that game.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

Namco Bandai to publish Heavenly Sword-dev Ninja Theory's next IP

Reader Comments (21)

Posted: Aug 19th 2009 2:07PM (Unverified) said

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