Key Takeaways
- Kadokawa reportedly prefers Sony to acquire it wholly, including anime and game assets.
- Negotiations between parties are progressing, despite initial differences.
- Sony stands to gain majority control over FromSoftware, potentially enhancing its first-party lineup.
Amid growing Sony acquisition talks, a new report claims that FromSoftware‘s biggest shareholder, Kadokawa Corporation, prefers a total buyout by the PlayStation manufacturer over any other arrangement. In other words, the Japanese entertainment behemoth reportedly wants a possible takeover to not only include its game assets—such as FromSoftware—but also its other various assets across different business verticals.
Since the initial whispers of Sony looking to acquire Kadokawa went viral, quite a few new developments have taken place in a short span of time. For starters, the FromSoftware parent has since issued a public statement, officially confirming Sony’s interest in the company’s shares. While this sent certain FromSoftware fans anxious about the future of the studio’s games on non-Sony platforms into a frenzy, it ultimately helped Kadokawa’s share price climb higher. Now, there is new information out there about the publishing major’s favorable terms for an acquisition deal.
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According to Bloomberg, FromSoftware owner Kadokawa Corporation wants Sony to either acquire it “entirely,” including its vast anime and manga libraries, or “not at all.” This is reportedly opposed to the PlayStation maker’s original plan, which was to carve out purchases of its anime and gaming interests from Kadokawa’s varied portfolio. The source also revealed that the current stage of negotiations between the involved parties is “encouraging,” after a long period of having differences about the “degree of commitment” regarding a takeover.
Sony’s Acquisition of FromSoftware Parent Would Offer It a Bigger Say
Back in 2022, Sony secured 14.09% shares in Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, becoming its third-largest shareholder behind Kadokawa at 69.66% and Tencent at 16.25%. However, if the rumored acquisition comes to a close, it would bring over 83% of the Hidetaka Miyazaki-led studio’s shares to the PlayStation owner. This change would effectively make Sony the majority shareholder, unlocking a more promising avenue of influence over the Dark Souls creator.
Given the highly impressive track record of FromSoftware’s titles over the past decade or so, during which two of its games have won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, such a takeover could naturally prove to be gamechanging for the console giant. Even if Sony resists making FromSoftware’s games exclusive for its console, it would still be adding another award-winning developer to its star-studded lineup of first-party studios, which already includes the likes of Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, and Insomniac Games. On top of that, a full takeover of Kadokawa would also mean Sony gaining access to the untapped video game potential of the prolific anime maker’s virtually endless list of IPs.
From Software
Based in Japan, FromSoftware is a development company best known for the Souls series and Armored Core franchise. Other popular games from From Software include Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and the King’s Field series.
- Date Founded
- November 1, 1986
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- CEO
- Hidetaka Miyazaki
- Parent Company
- Kadokawa
- Known For
- dark souls , Armored Core