Sony Confirms Interest in Acquiring Kadokawa, FromSoftware

Sony‘s interest in acquiring Kadokawa, the parent company of FromSoftware, has stirred up a lot of excitement among entertainment and gaming fans of all kinds. Sony is now attempting to dismiss the growing rumors in a recent interview with Yahoo Japan, where they admit to attempting to acquire the major media conglomerate. But the PlayStation maker was careful to lower expectations, noting that despite talks nothing has been decided yet.

Sony Confirms Interest in Acquiring Kadokawa Group, Parent of FromSoftware and Other Major Studios

“It is true that we have made an initial statement of intent,” Sony said about its interest in Kadokawa. “We would appreciate it if you would allow us to refrain from further comment.” This statement has officially confirmed that discussions between the two companies are active, but as of now, the specifics of any potential deal remain unclear. News of a potential deal, first reported last month by Reuters, said that negotiations were ongoing and, if negotiations go well, a deal could be signed soon. Sony saying talks are ongoing does not shed light on the current status or when or if it will end.

And all of its assets are good for Sony and could be applied to their portfolio such as FromSoftware being the most valuable. FromSoftware has established itself as a titan in the gaming industry, thanks in part to the success of the Dark Souls franchise, which changed the landscape for action RPGs, and the hugely successful Elden Ring from 2022. Additionally, Kadokawa owns other notable gaming studios such as Spike Chunsoft (makers of Danganronpa), Acquire (known for Octopath Traveler), and Gotcha Gotcha Games (creators of RPG Maker).

While some analysts say Kadokawa is a difficult target for acquisition, Piers Harding-Rolls, research director at Ampere Analysis, said he was not surprised that Sony showed interest. Sony already has a 14-percent stake in FromSoftware, from a 2022 deal, and has a broader interest in cross-development of anime and games. Harding-Rolls views the acquisition of Kadokawa as a natural extension of this strategy, and one that fits very well with existing anime businesses under the broader Sony umbrella.

The deal is still in the early stages, as of now, and it’s not clear if or when it will move forward. In the meantime, fans can find out more about why FromSoftware isn’t making Elden Ring 2 and the recent ransomware attack targeting the developer.

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