NAMCO BANDAI GAMES CELEBRATES OVER 10 MILLION NARUTO™ AND NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™ GAMES SHIPPED WORLDWIDE

The Unstoppable Ninja Fighting Game Series Launched in 2003 Flies Past Major Milestone as the Latest Title Prepares to Hit Retail

SAN JOSE, Calif., (January 13, 2012) – Champagne corks are popping today at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. following the news that the NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN video game franchises have shipped an incredible 10 million copies worldwide since the launch of the first game in 2003 (Japan/Asia 1.9 million units, North America 4.3 million units, Europe 3.8 million units). NAMCO BANDAI Games began releasing NARUTO videogames in March 2003 and has published a total of 15 titles to date across multiple platforms.

Since 2003 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. has had the privilege to work very closely with a number of talented developers on the series including the exceptional team at CyberConnect2.  NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja ® STORM 2 from CyberConnect2 was released in October 2010 for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® and has been a huge success with global sales in excess of one million units. 

To celebrate the 10 million sales milestone in his own inimitable style, the charismatic president of CyberConnect2, Hiroshi Matsuyama, will run all 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195km) of the Marathon de Paris in France dressed as NARUTO on April 15th, 2012, joined by producers from NAMCO BANDAI Games.  He’s already engaged in a hard NARUTO-style training regime to get in shape for the event!

Also, for the first time in the history of the series, NAMCO BANDAI Games is pleased to announce a collaboration between the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN videogames and the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN trading card game, which will see the light of day within the same release window as NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations on March 13^th, 2012.

“We’re very glad and proud to have achieved 10 million units worldwide for the NARUTO franchise, and we promise you that we will keep working very hard on this important series to carry on exciting all the fans around the world. Thanks again for all of your support, and I wish you all the best for 2012!” said Yusuke Sasaki, Producer at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.

Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is the latest title in the hit ‘NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm’ series of games. The title propels the series into the future with revolutionary online play and more playable and support characters than ever before.  With original Japanese voiceovers and a faithful presentation, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is an essential addition to the smash hit NARUTO series of games. The games are based on the popular animated NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN series from VIZ Media from the manga created by Masashi Kishimoto (also available from VIZ Media),

For more information on NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations please visit http://www.namcobandaigames.com. For more information and to view free streaming episodes of NARUTO and the uncut NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (both rated TV-14), please visit www.naruto.com or www.VIZAnime.com.

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About NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., part of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content — including all major video game consoles, iOS, mobile and online.  The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN^®, Tekken^®, SOULCALIBUR^®, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball^®, GALAGA^®, RIDGE RACER® and ACE COMBAT^®.  More information about the company and its products can be found at www.namcobandaigames.com or www.facebook.com/namco

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.