Rumor: Sony May Be Looking to Acquire FromSoftware Parent Company

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Rumor: Sony May Be Looking to Acquire FromSoftware Parent Company

Key Takeaways

  • Sony is reportedly in talks to acquire FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa.
  • Kadokawa’s anime, film, TV, and gaming ventures align with Sony’s ambitions to expand its entertainment business.
  • However, there’s a possibility that FromSoftware may not be integrated into PlayStation Studios.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming history under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the rumors circulating around Sony potentially acquiring FromSoftware. From the Souls series to Elden Ring and Sekiro, FromSoftware has been a consistent beacon of excellence in the gaming industry, and their potential integration into the PlayStation family could mean some incredible exclusive titles down the line.

It’s being said that Sony might be negotiating to acquire Kadokawa, a Japanese media conglomerate which includes FromSoftware in its portfolio. If this deal goes through, popular intellectual properties of FromSoftware such as Elden Ring, Armored Core, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice could possibly become part of Sony’s diverse collection.

FromSoftware is widely recognized for significantly contributing to the rise in popularity of the Souls genre, particularly through their acclaimed Dark Souls series, Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne, and the critically acclaimed Elden Ring. In more recent times, FromSoftware has explored the action genre with titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Armored Core 6, which marks the latest release in their longstanding Armored Core series focusing on mecha combat.

At the same period, Sony has been considering expanding its first-party PlayStation lineup by acquiring studios, and it seems FromSoftware could be one of them. According to recent reports from Reuters, Sony is in talks about potentially purchasing Kadokawa, a move aimed at strengthening their entertainment collection. Kadokawa’s diverse business interests span anime, gaming, manga, television, and film. Notably, Sony already holds a 2% stake in Kadokawa and 14% of FromSoftware, positioning it as a potential target for Sony’s acquisition plans.

Kadokawa’s Anime and Gaming Endeavors Seem Like the Perfect Fit for Sony’s Growing Business

In recent times, anime has become a significant area of interest for Sony. They currently operate streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Funimation, and potentially acquiring a prominent anime publisher such as Kadokawa would bolster Sony’s presence in the anime industry even more. Besides FromSoftware, Kadokawa also owns gaming studios responsible for games like “Octopath Traveler” (developed by Acquire), “Danganronpa” (Spike Chunsoft), and “RPG Maker” (Gotcha Gotcha Games). At the moment, neither Sony nor Kadokawa have responded to buyout speculations. However, if negotiations proceed favorably, a deal could be finalized within the next few weeks.

FromSoftware May Not Be a Part of PlayStation Studios

While it’s exciting for PlayStation fans to speculate about FromSoftware joining Sony’s family of first-party studios, it’s important to note that this might not necessarily mean they’ll be part of the PlayStation ecosystem. This is because the potential acquisition by Kadokawa would be facilitated by the Sony Group, not Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation’s parent company). As a result, FromSoftware and other game studios under Kadokawa could potentially be integrated into Sony as a whole, rather than being exclusive to PlayStation. This setup mirrors Sony’s relationship with Aniplex, where the company publishes games on various platforms, sometimes choosing not to release them on PlayStation, such as in the case of The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy.

Instead, it seems reasonable that Sony recognizes the potential value FromSoftware could bring to PlayStation, given their proven skills. Therefore, there’s a possibility that Sony might incorporate FromSoftware into Sony Interactive Entertainment and take over Kadokawa for its entertainment ventures. However, the outcome of the discussions between Sony and Kadokawa is still uncertain, so the coming weeks could be crucial for both parties.

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2024-11-19 14:13