Sony's advancing pursuit of Kadokawa Corporation continues, with its latest move. After expressing interest in wanting to buy Kadokawa, a large entertainment company that owns many publishing, anime, and gaming subsidiaries, including Dark Souls and Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, Sony has further invested in Kadokawa Corporation, making them the largest shareholder in the company, and thus owning 10% of it, compared to the second-largest shareholder at 6%, Tencent. Sony's amount of investment is valued at around $320 million, with the goal of the two companies stated to be working together to adapt Kadokawa's intellectual properties into live-action TV and movies, co-produce new anime, and expand the publishing capabilities of Kadokawa's gaming division. This is not an acquisition, though signs certainly seem to point towards such in the future.

"Through this capital and business alliance, we will become the largest shareholder of KADOKAWA, which consistently creates a wide variety of IP, including publications and books, such as light novels and comics, as well as games and anime. By combining KADOKAWA's extensive IP and IP creation ecosystem with the strengths of Sony, which has promoted the global expansion of a wide range of entertainment, including anime and games, we plan to work closely together to realize KADOKAWA's 'Global Media Mix' strategy, aimed at maximizing the value of its IP, and Sony's long-term vision, 'Creative Entertainment Vision.'"

Source

 

[Bladexdsl]

why are they bothering to buy companies when they don't make any games for the ps5?

 

[ZeroT21]

why are they bothering to buy companies when they don't make any games for the ps5?

Having diversity when it comes to investment options just means Sony is planning to secure their profits long term

 

[pustal]

why are they bothering to buy companies when they don't make any games for the ps5?

The console market is dying and they know that. They have the console oligarchy and they want to move to a developer oligarchy. There will probably be 3 or 4 big developers that will develop most AAA titles and they'll control the gaming market in another way. That's why both Microsoft and PlayStation don't mind porting everything to the PC.

 

[ZeroFX]

Let's hope kadokawa doesn't fall on the hands of Californian Sony, that would be a tragedy to anime. I hope Sony Japan wins the tug of war with Sony California to stop with the blue haired projects and bring the good games.

 

[Dark_Ansem]

Kadowaka owns dark souls?

 

[RedColoredStars]

why are they bothering to buy companies when they don't make any games for the ps5?

Thanks for once again proving to everyone here that you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Ever.

The console market is dying and they know that.

Pure nonsense.

 

[Reploid]

mediocrity owns mediocrity

 

[RedColoredStars]

mediocrity owns mediocrity

I'd love to see how your paychecks compare to these two "mediocre" entities. I'd also love to see how the creations of your own superior gaming, anime, movie studios hold up against theirs. I'll wait...........

 

[Robert Newbie]

The console market is dying and they know that. They have the console oligarchy and they want to move to a developer oligarchy. There will probably be 3 or 4 big developers that will develop most AAA titles and they'll control the gaming market in another way. That's why both Microsoft and PlayStation don't mind porting everything to the PC.

Interesting theory. I wish I knew where things were headed. Sony has leaned into graphics since the PS3, and it's lead to a focus on more cinematic games. What's confusing is that Sony has the resources and the IP's to hit more demographics. Yet, the PS5 is four years into its lifespan, and the number of exclusives is still a short list. With all this in mind, that theory makes sense.

I wonder if PS5 sales are declining. People may not be buying high end consoles, due to costs. It's why the PS5 Pro was baffling. Meanwhile, Nintendo will likely maintain profitability by using established IP's for exclusive games while using the "console/portable" hybrid design. If they stay affordable, they'll reach a wide audience. I could see people continuing down that route as well as building PC's. Where does that leave Sony and Microsoft?

 

[AlphaBravo]

Problem with these kind of large complex purchases is that Sony will now be forced to pump out any kind of content at expense of quality over quantity. I felt same thing happened with purchase of Star wars franchise by Disney. Other examples include Bungie which Sony also bought. If it ain't broke dont fix it

 

[sdentau]

Knack Souls confirmed

 

[lordofcombo]

I'd love to see how your paychecks compare to these two "mediocre" entities. I'd also love to see how the creations of your own superior gaming, anime, movie studios hold up against theirs. I'll wait...........

you can be rich and mediocre.Sony is going down hill since the PS5.
From software was a lame company all its life.Its only since Blood borne era that they became relevant.

 

[RedColoredStars]

you can be rich and mediocre.Sony is going down hill since the PS5.
From software was a lame company all its life.Its only since Blood borne era that they became relevant.

Oh, please. PS5 is outpacing the PS4. Nothing has gone downhill.

 

[The Catboy]

And Bloodborne will still not leave the PS4

 

[GengarsGhostlyGiggles]

american megacorps need to be dismantled more than ever. I'm tired of living under rule by American companies and their anti-normal people oligarchies. Sony is behind the push to get anime off certain websites.

 

[Rioluwott]

I think you should have said that sony now owns a percent of one of the largest anime companies in he world and their only competition when it comes to this giving them the monopoly in the anime side, kadokawa it's a lot more than just "fromsoftware parent company" and does not really show the impact of the news

 

[Skelletonike]

I hate that Sony wants to grab Kadokawa. They will most likely ruin it.
I'm also curious as to what will happen with all the Bandai IP's that Kadokawa handles, Bandai is also a majority shareholder so there will be a conflict of interests.

There's also the fact that Kadokawa has some of the best manga magazines out there, I worry that Sony will try to censor my favourite monthly magazine, the Monthly Dragon Age (I buy it almost every month, it has some of the greatest and most perverted mangas, something that Sony does not like)

 

[Xzi]

Obviously it would be ideal if FromSoft was left alone to do their own thing, but Tencent need to be the ones to fuck off most of all. They've got their fingers in absolutely everything, and the threat of a possible buyout from them is what's driving Kadokawa toward Sony.

 

[whitesword7]

an anime hater like Sony is now the largest shareholder of the biggest anime company in the world??? this is not going to end well

my trust with sony regarding anime related things is zero ever since their policy results in senran kagura seven cancelation