Kadokawa Wants Sony's Full Commitment with Buyout of Entire Company

I’m so tired of all these buyouts and mergers lately. Hopefully this one doesn’t pan out. Then again if Microsoft is also interested, I’d rather Sony have it, the lesser of two evils so to speak…Anything to stop Microsoft’s rampant pointless buyouts.

@LavenderShroud you really think that sony is lesser evil? Lol

That's a huge commitment and money to spend when in reality Sony is only going after two gaming franchises.

Better sony than Microsoft or tenecent imo . Also considering sony did a lot to make bloodborne, it would make sense plus increase sonys value

@DarthCvrle66 i agree , as microsoft have a track record of closing studios they acquire , aony tend to help studios develop than stagnate

This company is worth over £3 billion. So how much is it likely to cost Sony?
No doubt it will be a better buy than Bungie was.

@Major_Player they're not though, mainly looking to boost anime etc

@Major_Player There's more than 2 IP's on the table, Sony would be acquiring huge chunks of Anime and Manga rights, rights that would bring them more income than Elden Ring 2 would.

@DarthCvrle66 Hm, yes. Easily. Microsoft as a company was always shady.

@DarthCvrle66 Maybe learn what Microsoft does in other sectors? They want a near monopoly in every business they get into so that sweet SaaS subscription prices (recurring revenue) can increase significantly. This has occurred in hosting but also operating systems (with hosting you can only choose Microsoft, Amazon or some Chinese party forgot what the name is)

Sony and Kadokawa is such a better fit than MS, Tencent or Kakao. Sony already owns around 2% of Kadokawa if i’m not mistaken. And 15% of FromSoftware. Also the, history between these two goes back to the PS1 era. They have been working closely where Sony already owns several IP made by their gaming studio. Not to mention the fact that Kadokawa wants Sony to buy them out. They dont want a foreign company to buy them out. It would be a total cultural mismatch.

And yes @DarthCvrle66

Ok, so unless Sony gets cold feet, it's done. Kadokawa needs/wants a buyer and wants them to be locals, plus both have had a longstanding relationship together. Can imagine games will stay multiplat...well, maybe they keep off Xbox just to spite them as they do 😆, but Nintendo and PC will continue.

@AdamNovice Microsoft probably just wanted From software, they seem to want to monopolise the biggest IP's around.

I think it's going to go through. I think the Japanese government would step in to stop another foreign company from acquiring it.

Just do it already, Sony.

Wouldn't this risk Sony becoming a monopoly when it comes to the anime side of things? Buying the company outright could well see some them undergoing scrutiny just as Microsoft did, and maybe even having to jettison the anime part of this acquisition...

@Shepherd_Tallon the Japanese government? I did not know that. Very interesting.

Will it make the Bloodborne remaster happen any quicker?

I think any Japanese developer would think twice selling to Microsoft after what they did to Tango Gameworks. Release a critically successful game, boast about it's success then shut down the developer? Weird way to show job security.

And they can't even handle what they have. Firing people left and right and shutting several studios and yet want more. Xbox is severely mismanaged at this point and shouldn't be allowed to have anything else until they can prove they're not totally incompetent. And that they stick to their agreements of "not shuttering studios, firing people and nurturing talent" that was the bs line during the FTC trial.

@Shepherd_Tallon he wants the company to be bought by a japanese company and not some foreign company. plus it will be easier for sony to buy it then a foreign company.. due to japanese laws..

@Major_Player Did you casually ignore the entire anime bit?

sony and kadogawa would be a perfect match since they have worked together and sony owns 14% of fromsoft stock.. and 2% of kadogawa.. it is at this point just a matter of when it will happen..

@DarthCvrle66 Did Sony recently buy one of the biggest multiformat publishing houses in the industry, and then turn around and buy the actual biggest in an attempt to financially strangle the competition? No? Oh that was Microsoft who have a history of doing just that in order to bury the competition and monopolise? Okay then.

🤣 I love how some people think Microsoft is so squeaky-clean… they really did a number on you guys didn’t they 😂

@Shepherd_Tallon This is the big one. KADOKAWA has wanted to be bought out for a long time.

Anyone watch DreamcastGuy’s video on this? For the laughs, I mean, not because there’s any credible news or competent takes. I especially enjoyed the extra syllable he adds to Kadokawa, now affectionately known as ‘Kadowakawa’.

As I wrote in the 2 previous articles on this topic, seems like a done deal and they are just publicly squabbling about the price now. Sony trying to keep the price down b/c they really only want the anime, Kadokawa wanting to sell the whole company so probably asking for more.

Some of these Japanese companies still value cultural heritage and anime is an important part of that. Anime is a significant source of national pride, an art form deeply entwined with Japanese heritage and identity.

Its not like they just sell everything to the highest bidder and don't care about the potential cultural consequences it might have.
Like falling in the hands of certain foreign companies who might not have the same cultural affinity with it and just want to make money, and risking the industry be changed in a way not in line with Japanese culture and custom.

Not for consolidation but if that's what they want then Sony is still the better option to handle Anime and general Japanese IPs.

@get2sammyb perhaps, but with the large (or at least outspoken) Bloodborne fanbase, it would be silly not to utilise from software.

If talks already happened between Sony and Kadokawa for years then this is sounds like Kadokawa prefer a fellow Japanese company to acquire them over non-Japanese like MS or Tencent.

@DarthCvrle66 In this case? Sony is absolutely the lesser evil compared to MS.

@Major_Player Remember this is Sony Corp as the buyer here not SIE/PlayStation. They’re clearly after the other bits, the gaming stuff is probably just a bonus.

@somnambulance movies from Mamoro Hosoda and Makoto Shinkai, so pretty much the most high profile anime directors beyond Hayao Miyazaki

I don't think it's going to take much convincing to get Sony on board with the whole company. Nearly every bit of the company fits something Sony is looking to bolster. Anime, Manga, Fromsoft...the shoe definitely fits.

In the end, who really cares who buys whom? This stuff isn’t new. It’s been happening since business was a thing. I’ll still play what I play and get up for work each day to make moment pay my bills. Let the suits worry about this side of gaming. Just give me something good to play.

The sad part is, this'll probably be way cheaper than bungie.

I’m not for or against the acquisition but I will say that Sony have done right by FromSoftware over the years. They were the publisher and assisted in development for the original Demons Souls so who knows if Dark Souls, Bloodborne or Elden Ring would even exist without that relationship. I don’t watch much Anime so don’t really have a dog in that fight but I have played and loved every Soulsborne game by FromSoftware so would hate to see them stagnate under a Microsoft or Tencent. At least history tells us that Sony believes in and cares about these games.

@DarthCvrle66 a lot of the people here only own playstations and/or Nintendo switch.

@MrPeanutbutterz you know he didn’t.

@DarthCvrle66 Sony bought/invested millions into Firewalk/Concord if it didn't flop massively then they would still be open. Mircosoft on the other hand bought Tango works who gave them an award winning game and still closed them down. so yes they are the lesser evil.

@Balaam_ No, can't stand his voice.

@DarthCvrle66 Microsoft is worth 3 trillion dollars, Sony is worth over 1 billion. Sony is the lesser evil in my book.

I see that i stirred up the hornet’s nest I meant that they r both the same. They both buy studios and close them. They r both gready as F but i think MS gives us more for less money.

Nowdays people are biased both in xbox and Ps groups, God forbid we say anything wrong about their parent companies. I remember the time when Games were finished and there were no Microtransactions and etc. We should fight against that and not arrgue about which company takes more from their consumers.

Best example is now PS Pro that is in my mind not worth 800€

@Fiendish-Beaver Yup, it seems that many people here have absolutely no problem overlooking the fact that Sony will basically be a western monopoly when it comes to anime.

Looks like they want to sell no matter what so yeah I would prefer Sony over the others. Fromsoft is a bonus in the deal although I'm sure their games would stay multiplatform.

@PuppetMaster Kadokawa have already worked with Sony multiple times before in various industries. FromSoft have made exclusives for Playstation, Crunchyroll hosts anime, some anime license music from Sony Music Japan (Delicious in Dungeon for example).

Damn, I was hoping Kadokawa was just entertaining the idea of a buyout. But apparently they seem eager to sell. Sigh. 😔

On the positive side maybe Sony can save From Software by firing that hack Hidetaka Miyazaki, move the studio to California and make Niel Druckmann lead writer & creative director so we finally can have our bigoted expectations subverted and given the game we deserve.

Then after we've all cried, grown and had our lives changed by the literary genius... we'll get Born Elden: Ring of Souls a massive GaaS title. Guaranteed, one hundred percent, the live service game of the ages. 💯
I for one feel giddy. 😅

...on the other hand, we might get a remastered Bloodborne. Ok, I'll allow it!

@DarthCvrle66 they don’t give you more, they rent you it… the moment you stop paying it’s no longer available to you.

And Microsoft just released a series x with nothing new about it but some sprinkles and a bigger hard drive for only $100 less than a pro… so I wouldnt say that was worth its price.

We get it, you’re on a budget so you went with the inexpensive loan of games rather than own… doesn’t make Sony more evil, just not as suited to your personal needs as a budget gamer 🤷

@Dragon83 Can’t believe we’re still say this nonsense after Japan Studio closure. Where was that “Helping studios develop”.

@IslandLogic Maybe we should let the regulatory bodies who will thoroughly review this deal decide whether this will create a monopoly or not. If it is, then certain aspects of the deal will need to be changed, don't worry.

@DarthCvrle66 MS is famous for its monopolistic practices in its long history, they have been found guilty of it in the past. They just recently consolidated a big chunk of the gaming industry by buying two of the biggest 3rd publishers in the world. Further continuing to aggressively push their rent service to everyone.

Im not Saying Sony is perfect, but yeah the lesser evil for sure.

@LogicStrikesAgain “ Sony already owns around 2% of Kadokawa if i’m not mistaken. And 15% of FromSoftware.”

They own 14 which is less than what Tencent owns… and I’m sure Tencent owns more of Kadokawa as well.

@AverageGamer the majority of studios are developed , the Japan studios hasn't made anything decent in years apart from a couple VR games

@LuXifer your joking right? Druckmam can't write a decent story for toffee. After they booted amy hennig

I really don't want Korea, China or Microsoft owning Japanese companies so Sony you'd better bite their hand off

@Dragon83 I think I overdosed on the snarkiness today.😁 Yeah, all of those things would be terrible.

Except the remake of course.

@AverageGamer That is true, but see my other reasons and posts about why i think Tencent would not be a good fit.

Im not implying that the company with the most shares gets the deal. Regardless of other companies owning shares, Sony owning shares could benefit them in a buyout since they are also already familiar with the company.

Honestly? I hope it goes through.
Sony Music Entertainment Japan has been a solid branch so far and I don't think they can mismanage Kadokawa's IPs.

@colonelkilgore genuinely shocked more people aren't talking about how much of a ripoff the 2tb Xbox and the digital xsx are..

@SlipperyFish it’s coz PlayStation gamers are too busy gaming and Xbox gamers would rather forget about it 😉

Pretty much guaranteed I should think, the pure xbox comment section when it does,will no doubt be a sh*t show.

Hmm. I'm torn with this as while I think Sony could do great things with FromSoft and their IPs (if they keep them multiplatform) I'm also concerned about a potential monopoly with anime streaming services...

I'd rather Sony than Microsoft, however. And that's not just because I have a playstation. MS have been pretty shoddy with supporting their buyout studios/publishers recently.

@SlipperyFish why how much is it ?

@Loamy
Monopoly is almost impossible, production and licensing are managed by a committee not by a single company.

@lazarus11 $600

@Dragon83 Isnt the point of developing studio to help studios create successful games, and point them in the right direction? The fact you’re saying “ hasn't made anything decent in years apart from a couple VR games” (which is incredibly stupidly false by the way) an example of Sony failure at developing and helping a studio?

Outside of a handful of Sony’s studios… Most of them have very much stagnated.

@CielloArc oh really? I have no clue with how it works. Surely Sony will be getting all the profits regardless of committee decisions? Although that's still better than complete control .

@AverageGamer I think that's more a symptom of the difficulty and cost of making high-quality games these days tbh. Since games went Triple AAA both companies have struggled releasing exclusives, especially Microsoft. Sony have struggled with it recently. It's just the state of the industry.

@Loamy Why do people worry about a monopoly so much? Im sure monopolies aren't allowed in Japan, and this deal will be reviewed thoroughly by regulatory bodies to see if they wont become a monopoly or negatively impact competition in any way. And if it will, the deal will need to be adjusted accordingly. Thats how these things go.

Thats how it went with the MS-Activision deal. Many offered reasons about how it might become a monopoly. They investigated it, and after the needed adjustments it got approved. I don't see why anything would be different with this deal. It will need to pass regulatory review, so you most likely wont have to worry.