A new patent filed by Bandai Namco suggests the developer is working on an improved UI for a potential digital trading card game. While the prolific Tekken developer is most known for its various video game franchises, the studio also develops several trading card games based on some of its series. Bandai Namco currently produces trading card game adaptations for both Digimon and Dragon Ball Z, with neither having an official online client. Now, Bandai Namco may be looking at bringing its iconic card games to an online space.
The patent from Bandai Namco features a redesigned interface for an online card game presented as a "game system, information processing device, and server device." The patent shows a mock-up of the new UI, displaying two players facing off against each other and including separate diagrams to show card designs. A counter on the left side of the diagram may suggest Bandai Namco's initial patent is related to an online Digimon TCG client, with the game operating on an energy system.
Bandai Namco's new interface for online card games comes as the developer's foray into the card game market has been picking up steam in recent years. The Digimon Card Game celebrated its 2nd anniversary earlier this year with the game's second World Championships set to run early next year. The Dragon Ball Collectible Card Game has seen similar success since its debut in 2017. Both franchises previously received trading card games in the early 2000s during the trading card boom that saw franchises like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! achieve massive popularity.
A new online trading card game from Bandai Namco would see significant competition with many of its competitors already making the jump to digital formats. The Pokemon Trading Card Game has featured an official online client since 2012 with The Pokemon Company recently announcing a new revamped Pokemon Trading Card Game client. Konami recently launched Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel as an online version of the card game, seeing massive success across multiple platforms. Online-only games like Shadowverse and Legends of Runeterra also control large spaces in the digital card game market.
While no official announcement has been made by Bandai Namco about a digital card game, both of the developer's represented franchises have seen major releases this year. The long-awaited Digimon Survive debuted in July after being delayed for several years following its 2018 announcement. Dragon Ball also recently received the newest entry to its massive game library with Dragon Ball: The Breakers launching last month. A new digital card game for Digimon or Dragon Ball would look to see another high-profile trading card game stepping into the online space.