Bandai Namco Trademark Could Mean a New Katamari Game is Coming

One of the most unique series in the industry, the Katamari is truly are a league of its own. There are few ways to accurately describe the game beyond its core mechanic — rolling objects and growing an ever-growing ball. Against all odds, this simple yet addictive gameplay loop became a massive hit, and now, we might be getting a new entry in 14 years.

Bandai Namco has filed a new trademark in Europe for Once Upon a KATAMARI, and while it breaks from the usual naming convention, it could still point to a new project for the dormant franchise. The last game was Touch My Katamari for the PlayStation Vita back in 2011, and while there might have been remasters, fans have been clamouring for a new experience for quite some time now.

Trademark registrations like this have historically been a common practice for Bandai Namco before officially announcing new games. Similar patterns were observed with Digimon: Time Stranger and Elden Ring Nightreign, both of which were trademarked before their public reveals some time later.

With its charming story and fantastic soundtrack as additional selling points, it is not hard to see why a series like this is beloved by fans worldwide. Perhaps a new entry will allow a new generation of gamers to enjoy its quirky formula in a whole new way.

In addition to filing for Once Upon a KATAMARI, the Japanese gaming company also trademarked something called Gekishin Squadra. What that pertains to is still anyone’s guess, with Gematsu suggesting that it could be linked to the 1991 game Dragon Ball Z 2: Gekishin Freeza.

We are most certainly excited by the prospect of another Katamari game, but until there is official confirmation, we can only wait. Here’s hoping the trademark leads to something, and is not just a regular, legal thing.