Katamari Fans Might Finally Get a New Game After 14 Years

More than ten years have passed since the last Katamari game was released, hinting that a possible return could be imminent.

Bandai Namco’s recent trademark applications suggest a potential new title in the series titled “Once Upon a Katamari.” Since “Touch My Katamari” was released for the PlayStation Vita in 2011, this could mark the first fresh installment in the franchise.

While details are still scarce, the upcoming trademark has sparked excitement among long-term fans, particularly those who are eagerly anticipating new content beyond remakes of previous games.

2004 marked the debut of the Katamari series, and gamers quickly found themselves captivated by its whimsical, compelling gameplay. Ranging from small everyday objects to entire metropolises, manipulating items via rolling is an exceptional gaming mechanic rarely seen elsewhere.

Over time, Bandai Namco has kept the Katamari series going by releasing updated versions like Katamari Damacy REROLL and We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie. These were essentially updated versions of earlier games rather than brand new content. The recent filing for Once Upon a Katamari suggests that the studio may be working on an original, never-before-seen addition to the series.

Bandai Namco has a habit of giving hints about future projects by registering trademarks. For instance, titles like “Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn” and “We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie” were spotted in trademark filings before they were publicly announced. This recent filing appears to continue this pattern, suggesting that a new project may be on its way.

Additionally, the title deviates from the “REROLL” naming convention used in prior remasters, suggesting that it may not be another re-release but rather a fresh, new offering instead.

According to a report by Gematsu, the trademark for the game “Once Upon a Katamari” was registered in Europe on February 27th. Additionally, another trademark, “Gekishin Squadra,” has been filed in both the U.S. and Europe. However, while there have been speculations suggesting a connection between Gekishin Squadra and the game Dragon Ball Z II: Gekishin Freeza (a 1991 Famicom title), no concrete evidence has been found to confirm that it is indeed part of the Dragon Ball universe.

In Japanese, the term “Gekishin” translates to “severe earthquake.” However, due to insufficient information, it remains unclear if Gekishin Squadra is related to Katamari or if it stands alone as a separate venture.

Currently, Bandai Namco hasn’t officially revealed the details about Once Upon a Katamari. It might be a main sequel, a side story, or something entirely different. With such a long pause since the last game, fans are eagerly anticipating a fresh, new installment.

Pending any formal announcements, there’ll likely be ongoing speculation among fans, but considering Bandai Namco’s history, their recent trademark hints at a potential new installment in the Katamari series.

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2025-03-04 07:07