Some Kadokawa Employees Are Rooting For A Sony Buyout

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As a gamer with years of immersion into the rich worlds created by FromSoftware, I must admit that the potential acquisition of Kadokawa and FromSoftware by Sony has me both excited and apprehensive. The thought of new games in the vein of Dark Souls or Sekiro is tantalizing, but I can’t help but worry about the impact on the creative freedom that these developers have always enjoyed.

A number of staff members at Kadokawa Corporation, which owns FromSoftware, are expressing optimism that Sony might proceed with their proposed acquisition of the company.

As a dedicated fan, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement when CEO Takeshi Natsuno confirmed the rumors about Sony’s plans to acquire our beloved company at the end of November. A week later, we were thrilled to hear that Kadokawa had voiced their interest in being bought outright by Sony. However, it seems that Sony is only keen on making “strategic investments,” specifically focusing on their video game and anime divisions, which undeniably aligns with our shared passions.

The stunning news about the acquisition sent Kadokawa’s stock soaring to a record high of 4500 JPY, or approximately 29.56 USD. Notably, Sony holds 2% of Kadokawa’s shares and 14.09% of FromSoftware. Interestingly, Kadokawa is the dominant shareholder of FromSoftware, holding a significant 69.66% stake in the company, while Tencent owns the remaining 16.25%.

One veteran employee from Kadokawa recently spoke to Bunshun about the acquisition and expressed some excitement about Sony’s acquisition. The reason? Dissatisfaction with Natsuno.

It seems that the people working in close proximity to me are pleased with Sony’s potential takeover, as some employees appear unhappy with the Natsuno leadership. This discontent stems from the fact that no press conference was held after a data breach occurred due to a cyber attack, and their response was perceived as unsatisfactory. It is anticipated that if Sony acquires the company, one of the initial steps may be to remove President Natsuno from his position.

There Are Possible Comparisons to Microsoft’s Purchase of Activision Blizzard King

If the feelings about this employee situation seem familiar, you’re not imagining things. It mirrors the general sentiment surrounding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. While consolidating an industry is rarely beneficial, people were willing to overlook it if it meant that Bobby Kotick would no longer manage Activision.

Takeshi Natsuno isn’t known for having a spotless past in this place. In fact, there was an incident earlier this year where hackers managed to steal 1.5 terabytes of data from Kadokawa, which included sensitive information about both their employees and users. The staff weren’t particularly pleased with Natsuno’s handling of the data breach.

Although some employees are optimistic about the deal, economic analyst Takahiro Suzuki expresses concern. He explains that Sony aims to streamline its entertainment offerings as a key part of its business, but it’s struggling to generate new intellectual properties compared to the past. Consequently, acquiring established properties seems a more viable option for boosting income. Suzuki fears Kadokawa may lose its autonomy and face tighter management as a result.

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2024-12-11 17:38