Summary
Sony is reportedly in talks to buy Kadokawa, the Japanese media company that owns decorated game developerFromSoftware. This deal would see hugely prominentFromSoftwareIPs likeElden Ring,Armored Core, andSekiro: Shadows Die Twicepotentially folded under the Sony umbrella.
FromSoftware is credited for playing a huge role in the popularization of the Souls genre, most notably with theDark Soulsseries,Demon’s Souls,Bloodborne, and thehighly successfulElden Ring. In recent years, FromSoftware has also dabbled in the action genre with games likeSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceandArmored Core 6, the latest installment in its long-runningArmored Coremecha combat series.
During the same time,Sony has acquired several studiosto expand PlayStation’s first-party roster, and FromSoftware might just be next. According to a newreport from Reuters,Sony is currently discussing the prospect of a Kadokawa buyoutin an effort to bolster its entertainment portfolio. Kadokawa’s business ventures include anime, gaming, manga, TV, and film, and Sony already owns a 2% stake in Kadokawa and 14% in FromSoftware, making it a prime acquisition candidate for the company.
Kadokawa’s Anime and Gaming Endeavors Seem Like the Perfect Fit for Sony’s Growing Business
Anime has been a big focus for Sony in recent years. The company currentlyowns anime streaming platforms Crunchyrolland Funimation, and acquiring a prolific anime publisher like Kadokawa would further strengthen Sony’s anime business. In addition to FromSoftware, Kadokawa’s gaming subsidiaries includeOctopath Travelerdeveloper Acquire,Danganronpadeveloper Spike Chunsoft, andRPG Makerdeveloper Gotcha Gotcha Games. Reuters says both Sony and Kadokawa have declined to comment on the buyout for now, but if their discussions head in the right direction, a deal could be signed in the coming weeks.
FromSoftware May Not Be a Part of PlayStation Studios
However, PlayStation fans should temper their expectations about FromSoftware joining the gaming giant’s family of first-party studios. Since the Kadokawa buyout would be initiated by the Sony Group rather than Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation’s parent company), it could very well mean that FromSoftware and Kadokawa’s other game studios are integrated into Sony rather than PlayStation. This would be similar to Sony’s arrangement with Aniplex, where the company publishes games on whichever platform it wants to, sometimes even skipping PlayStation like with theupcomingThe Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy.
Conversely, Sony likely understands thatFromSoftware’s pedigree and expertisemight end up being quite beneficial to PlayStation, and so it could fold the studio under Sony Interactive Entertainment while absorbing the rest of Kadokawa for its entertainment pursuits. It remains to be seen how Sony and Kadokawa’s talks go, though, making the next few weeks potentially very significant for both companies.
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.
