A month after its February 11 release, Little Nightmares 2 has sold over a million units. This has propelled the Little Nightmares franchise into a series with five million players — a milestone publisher Bandai Namco is happy about, especially since it says there is more to come.
Little Nightmares 2 is the first title developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe to achieve this in such a small timeframe. “We’re very proud of the success of Little Nightmares and really grateful with how fans have embraced the universe through the games and the comics, putting their minds to work to find the wildest theories about Little Nightmares,” says Herve Hoerdt, Senior Vice President Marketing, Content and Digital at Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe.
He says the publisher “can’t wait to share with you what’s next in the Little Nightmares universe.” It is invested in continuing the growth of the series after two main games, a digital comic book made with Plastiek for iOS and Android, and the mobile game Very Little Nightmares. This growth is planned to continue “both with games and other entertainment content to ensure the lasting success of the franchise.”
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The confirmation that the end of this franchise is nowhere in sight is especially welcome for fans right now. On February 18, it was revealed that Little Nightmares 2 developer Tarsier Studios would be moving on to a new IP. An earnings report from the studio’s parent company, Embracer Group, stated it would “from now on, focus on creating new IPs.” While it was unclear if this had to do with Little Nightmares 2 underperforming, it’s now evident this isn’t the case.
“For the last 6 years, our mission at Tarsier Studios has been to create mesmerizing worlds,” Tarsier Studios CEO Andreas Johnsson told IGN at the time. “Little Nightmares was our first attempt and was a huge success. I personally love how Little Nightmares has gathered fans around the world over the course of the last 4 years. From the fan art, extensive fan theories and genuine reactions, it all has been amazing to witness. Our collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe has been extremely satisfying, they listened to our creative vision and took our crazy ideas and ambitions to heart.”
Johnsson said the franchise “will always be dear to us at the studio,” but that it’s time for Tarsier “to embark on a new chapter, create new IPs, and explore new worlds.” Since the Little Nightmares IP is owned by Bandai Namco, it is entirely possible for another studio to take up the mantle and steer it in a new direction. We’ll one day see what Tarsier Studios decides to do next — as well as what’s to come in the future of the captivating Little Nightmares series.
If you plan on playing Little Nightmares 2 — which you should absolutely do if you haven’t already — be sure to check Fanbyte’s in-depth guide. Collin MacGregor, our wonderful guides writer, created a five-part walkthrough to help you have a smoothly scary experience. If you need just a little bit more convincing, be sure to check out his review essay on the game’s excellent ability to capture childlike fear.
Little Nightmares 2 is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, and PC. It will also be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S later this year.
