In the midst of ongoing talks about a potential acquisition by Sony, it’s reported that Kadokawa Corporation, the largest shareholder of FromSoftware, is leaning towards a complete takeover by the PlayStation creator. This Japanese entertainment powerhouse is interested in a deal that would encompass not only its gaming assets, like FromSoftware, but also its other ventures spread across various business sectors.
Ever since rumors about Sony’s interest in acquiring Kadokawa began to circulate, there have been several developments in quick succession. Firstly, Kadokawa has publicly acknowledged Sony’s intent to purchase its shares, calming some anxieties among FromSoftware enthusiasts who were worried about the availability of their favorite games on non-Sony platforms. This official acknowledgment, however, did wonders for Kadokawa’s market value as its share prices soared higher. And now, fresh reports suggest that Kadokawa has set some favorable conditions for how this acquisition should proceed.
According to Bloomberg, Kadokawa Corporation is pushing for an “all-or-nothing” deal, urging Sony to acquire the entirety of its assets, including its extensive anime and manga inventories, rather than picking apart specific portions like just their anime or gaming sectors. The negotiations, which had initially stumbled over the extent of Sony’s commitment, are said to have moved into a more promising phase, fostering optimism on all sides.
If Sony goes through with acquiring Kadokawa’s majority stake, their influence over FromSoftware would increase significantly. In 2022, Sony already secured a 14.09% share in the company, making it the third-largest shareholder after Kadokawa, which holds 69.66%, and Tencent, with 16.25%. Should this acquisition come to fruition, Sony would command over 83% of the shares in the studio renowned for titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, positioning it as the majority stakeholder.
FromSoftware’s track record speaks for itself, with a decade-long history of critically acclaimed and award-winning games tallying two Game of the Year awards at The Game Awards. Therefore, this potential takeover could be monumental for Sony. Even if Sony doesn’t make all FromSoftware titles exclusive to its platforms, the addition of this prestigious developer would further elevate its impressive collection of first-party studios, alongside industry giants like Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, and Insomniac Games. Furthermore, acquiring Kadokawa in its entirety would open up new opportunities for Sony to explore the rich pool of intellectual properties held within Kadokawa’s extensive anime catalog, potentially transforming them into engaging gaming experiences.
