I'd like to make it clear from the outset that the contents of this post are wild fantasising on my part.
I recently read in Edge 236 that Namco Bandai is pondering how it can up it's sales in the West. How about a merger with / takeover of Capcom?
The two are currently on good terms, apparently, since they are working on Tekken X Street Fighter. This seems an acknowledgement by Bandai that Street Fighter has more international appeal and can help Tekken reach a wider audience. Marvel vs Capcom has obvious western appeal and the Resident Evil and Dead Rising franchises are well established shooters, something Bandai lacks. (I'm aware of Time Crisis, Dead to Rights and Inversion but these are not names which come to easily to mind. I seached "Namco Bandai Shooter" to refresh my memory.)
What does Capcom get out of the deal. Well, with Bandai's financial muscle behind it's projects it can provide developers with the recources to get games right first time. There might be no more Off the Records and Resident Evil could polish up a tarnished reputation. In a world where EA and Activision exist it could benefit both developers to be part of a bigger animal, both when it comes to developement and promotion.
All unfounded speculation, of course, but why not?
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