Sony reportedly in talks to acquire FromSoftware owner Kadokawa

Sony is reportedly in talks to acquire Kadokawa Corporation, a major Japanese conglomerate that owns a range of subsidiaries, including studio FromSoftware, Spike Chunsoft ( ), and – most ironically – Acquire ( ). Kadokawa is also a major name in the anime and manga space, owning a range of media production companies (ENGI, Doga Kobo, EuropaCorp), as well as notable publishers like Yen Press ( , ), which it co-owns with Hachette. Per , Sony is looking to add to its entertainment portfolio, expanding an existing 2% stake in Kadokawa to acquire the company outright.

Talks are believed to be ongoing, and a deal could be signed by the end of 2024. Responding to a inquiry, Sony reportedly declined to comment on the matter, and Kadokawa said it “cannot” comment. Kadokawa’s potential Sony acquisition is a major concern The news of a potential Kadokawa acquisition by Sony has not gone down well online, with many expressing concern about yet more acquisitions by a major company, after years of layoffs and downsizing caused by growing monopolies.



Fresh in the minds of many is the recent shutdown of Firewalk Studios, which was acquired by Sony in mid-2023, and shut down just over a year later, following the releasing of the poorly-received live service shooter . Rival company Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in 2022, and then spent subsequent years initiating many rounds of layoffs, impacting thousands of employees. While acquisitions don’t necessarily lead to significant restructures, we’ve seen this time and again in recent years, as companies cut hard-working staff to reduce the financial toll of acquiring multi-million dollar companies – usually to the detriment of their quality and output.

Should talks advance between Sony and Kadokawa, studios like FromSoftware may be put in more precarious positions. They may also be put under greater pressure – whether to perform well, or to operate under a new edict. In recent times, many of Sony’s acquired studios have been put to work on live service multiplayer games, as the company .

Surely FromSoftware won’t be put to the same task, but we’ll just have to wait to see what’s in store. believes a deal could be made imminently, should talks between Sony and Kadokawa go well, so more news is likely to arrive sooner, rather than later. Stay tuned.

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