Bandai Namco has recently submitted a trademark that raises hopes for a fresh addition to the beloved Katamari Damacy series, which hasn’t seen a brand-new console game in over 15 years. The application for a project tentatively titled Once Upon a Katamari hints at an exciting prospect for fans eagerly awaiting a sequel. While the specifics of the game remain unclear, the trademark filing certainly piques interest surrounding a potential release.
The Katamari Damacy series is well-known for its central character, the diminutive green alien known as The Prince of All Cosmos, alongside his cousins. Players guide them as they roll giant sticky balls, or Katamari, which pick up objects that cross their path. The gameplay loop skillfully challenges players to collect increasingly larger items, ultimately aiming to create the largest Katamari possible. Since the debut of the original game on PlayStation 2 in 2004, 18 titles have launched in the series; however, many have been simple remasters or mobile adaptations rather than new entries.
On February 27, 2023, Bandai Namco filed for the trademark Once Upon a Katamari with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. As of now, the application is still under review. Though detailed information about the new project is limited, its very existence gives many fans renewed hope for a genuine Katamari game. The most recent release, We Love Katamari + Royal Reverie, premiered in 2023, but was predominantly a remastered version of the classic We Love Katamari Reroll. The last truly original title, Katamari Forever, was released back in 2009, although it did reuse elements from previous games.
A Potentially Exciting New Chapter for Katamari
This is not the first wave of excitement among fans regarding a new title in the series. In March 2023, the unveiling of We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie fueled speculation about a new game on the horizon. Many hope that Once Upon a Katamari could be the long-awaited installment they’ve been dreaming of.
Another fascinating angle to consider is the future of the series without its original creator, Keita Takahashi. After leaving Bandai Namco in 2010, Takahashi directed the first two entries of the franchise, asserting that no sequel should be made to the original. Since his departure, subsequent titles have generally received less favorable responses from fans compared to the early games. Despite creating other projects post-Bandai Namco, none have reached the same iconic status as Katamari Damacy.
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