Namco Bandai Games America and Namco Networks have just announced that they will be merging under the Namco Bandai Games America label, effectively consolidating their console/handheld and mobile operations. Up until now Namco Networks operated apart from the North American branch of the company.

According to the companies, this move will help to create games that appeal to a "mass audience" and "best compete in the worldwide gaming industry." In the statement, Kenji Hisatsune, President, CEO and COO of Namco Networks said he was "very excited about uniting these dynamic groups and look forward to delivering top-notch content that's appropriate for multiple gaming platforms and communities."

As the statement seems to imply, this is likely a push by the company to further their outreach into the growing mobile, on-the-go sector, which was affirmed by the gaming website Kotaku in a recent interview with Carlson Choi, Vice President of Marketing for Namco Networks. It remains to be seen if the Tales series would be affected by this move, as it doesn't really fit in with the mobile idea the company appears to be aiming for.

The full integration of the two companies is set to be completed during the first quarter of 2011, in which Kenji Hisatsune will take over as the new President and CEO of Namco Bandai Games America.