According to Douglas Adams’ acclaimed novel series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, 42 is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. Therefore, while a 42nd Anniversary might just sound like any old anniversary in a franchise, a company would be justified in celebrating it with say.. a range of announcements. This is what Bandai Namco Entertainment has done today with their long-running PAC-MAN franchise.
PAC-MAN MUSEUM+
While not a new announcement, Bandai Namco Entertainment has reaffirmed that their upcoming release of PAC-MAN MUSEUM+ will be launching on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC from this Friday (27 May 2022). This compilation collection invites players to “discover or revisit 14 titles in the legendary PAC-MAN series, with some that haven’t been available in years”. In addition to the multiple PAC-MAN games that they will be able play in their virtual arcade, players will be able to customize it with cabinets, decorations and memorabilia, before taking on the various in-game missions.
New Theme Song – “We are PAC-MAN”
A new theme song and music video has been released today. Titled “We are PAC-MAN!”, and interpreted by Kaho Kidoguchi in Japanese and English, and Ann Una in Chinese. The song aims at promoting people cooperating and connecting together to live a healthy lifestyle.
Fortnite Collaboration
A series of PAC-MAN themed cosmetics will be arriving in Epic Games’ popular battle royale game Fortnite from 2 June 2022.
Merchandise/Branding Collaborations
In addition to these announcements, PAC-MAN’s presence outside of video games keeps on growing thanks to new partnerships. Starting June 6th, the PAC-MAN x EASTPAK collection will be available in participating retailers throughout EMEA, USA and South Korea, carrying bags, suitcases and pencil cases. For tourists visiting Paris, the Yooma Urban Lodge Paris Tour Eiffel will feel like being part of a PAC-MAN maze with a immersive decoration of the hotel’s entrance hall, courtyard and corridors. In Berlin, as the Computerspielemuseum is encouraging everyone to replay history in their museum, PAC-MAN and the ghosts will take over a train of the U-Bahn 5 starting this month. Slated for this Autumn/Winter, a PAC-MAN Collection in collaboration with sloggi will be available in several countries in Europe and Asia.
You can see the outcomes of some of these apparel, merchandising and branding collaborations below:
