Katamari Damacy Creator Exits Bandai Namco for Fresh Ideas

Keita Takahashi, the renowned creator of Katamari Damacy, has exited Bandai Namco to expand his horizons and collaborate with a more diverse mix of developers worldwide. Takahashi expressed a desire to work with international teams, believing diverse perspectives would generate fresh ideas for game development. He pointed out the importance of cultural differences in gaming experiences, noting the uniqueness of Japanese school customs compared to American ones. Takahashi’s next game, To a T, is set for release on May 28, 2025, on major platforms including PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, and will also be available on Xbox Game Pass. In a related update, a new title in the Katamari series, Katamari Damacy Rolling Live, will launch exclusively on Apple Arcade on April 3, 2025.

To a T is an upcoming game that reflects Takahashi's vision for innovative gameplay drawn from diverse cultural influences and perspectives. It symbolizes his transition into new collaborative environments that embrace a global outlook on game development.

Katamari Damacy, originally released in 2004, became a cult classic known for its unique gameplay mechanic where players roll a sticky ball to collect various objects, growing larger as they progress. The game’s unusual premise, colorful art style, and whimsical soundtrack captivated audiences and helped define a genre of creative puzzle games. With its upcoming releases, both To a T and the new Katamari title will likely aim to recapture that distinctive charm while introducing fresh elements influenced by Takahashi’s experiences with international teams.