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Sony's potential buyout of Kadokawa — which has been widely reported on over the last few weeks — is apparently being encouraged by Kadokawa employees.
That's according to a fresh article by Japanese publication Bunshun (as covered by Automaton). An anonymous "veteran" employee of Kadokawa told the outlet: "The people around me are thrilled at the prospect of an acquisition by Sony."
In part, this is because Kadokawa suffered a cyberattack earlier in the year, in which personal data was leaked. Supposedly, employees weren't happy with the way that the company's management reacted to the situation: "[They] didn’t even bother to hold a press conference after peoples’ personal information was leaked."
The hope, then, is that Sony's acquisition will result in a change of management. Kadokawa's current CEO is Takeshi Natsuno, who took up the role back in 2021. But again, it sounds like he isn't very popular with his workforce right now — based on these anonymous statements, at least.
Given all of this hubbub, it'll be very interesting to see how things unfurl over the coming weeks and months. As the reports point out, opinions on the acquisition have been mixed; there's some concern that Sony would strip Kadokawa of its independence — and that the deal itself benefits Sony much more than its target.
It's also well worth reiterating that Kadokawa is the parent company of Elden Ring and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware. That fact adds a different angle to the whole saga, especially from a PlayStation perspective.
Do you think this buyout's going to happen? What's your take on the acquisition in general? Make some shrewd business decisions in the comments section below.
[source bunshun.jp, via automaton-media.com]
Comments 38
1. Damn
2. I do wonder if PlayStation Studios will (directly) benefit from this buyout. I honestly think it would be smarter to keep developers like FromSoftware, Acquire, and Spike Chunsoft multi-platform. But you just never know. After all of Microsoft's bullcrap, Sony integrating Kadokawa into Sony Interactive Entertainment, or even PlayStation Studios, isn't impossible.
@JustCameHereToSay So Xbox gets to keep Bethesda games like Starfield exclusive, but Sony should stay multiplatform with bonfide console seller From Software. Got it.
I don't care if the games are multiplat or not, but what goes around comes around. You thought Microsoft was going to spend 100 Billion cleaning house on all of our favorite developers, and Sony wasn't going to react? Business is business my G, word up son.
I’d advise the multiplat games to stay multiplat and keep titles like Bloodborne exclusive. Maybe a short timed-exclusive for Elden Ring 2 and then eventually make the IP console exclusive. Keep PC day one though.
Their Chairman was arrested 2 years back too, probably quite indicative of the management.
@JustCameHereToSay I reckon this is exactly how it wil go. I wouldn't be surprised either if some of the the Kadokawa studios go under Sony Pictures/Aniplex.
"The people around me are thrilled at the prospect of an acquisition by Sony."
Until the layoffs start... : ^ (
I also join in the sentiment that most Fromsoft games should remain multiplat with only games like Bloodborne 2 (which comes out right after a Bloodborne remaster lol) and Demon's souls 2 being exclusives.
They should make Kadokawa operate independently like Bungie and Aniplex, and the other mobile studios they own. The less interference the better.
Makes sense. Apparently Fromsoft in particular is a pretty bad employer.
i think they could spend 3 billion pounds more wisely than buying them
Fromsoft games gonna be exclusive to PlayStation. Sony learn they’re lesson from the budgie deal.
@SuperBloodborneMaker You're miffed about Starfield - which didn't exactly set the world alight - yet PlayStation still got/are getting:
Doom 1 & 2
Quake Remastered
Quake 2 Remastered
Fallout 4 PS5 Upgrade
Doom Eternal PS5 Upgrade
Elder Scrolls Online PS5 Upgrade
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Doom: The Dark Ages
Not to mention that, unlike Sony as a publisher, PS5 upgrades from Microsoft-owned Bethesda games don't carry a $10 upgrade fee.
But, [expletive] Microsoft for keeping Starfield exclusive (for now).
@JustCameHereToSay I mean what revenue stream?
Ps5 is outselling xbox series x and s by about 10 to 1 if not more.
Its actually at the point that no ones buying an xbox.
You ain't losing much, it's the whole reason xbox are now considering first party games be portrd over to ps5.
Reality is aslong as its ps5 and pc, thats where money is coming.
Xbox maybe for a little spare change but then you have to think, is it worth the development time to port it over when numbers aren't even high anymore.
Xbox shot themselves in the foot by going all in on gamepass and its just not profitable.
@GamingFan4Lyf In fairness…MS can keep Starfield. I actually bought it on disc (at a HUGE discount, I’m not totally dumb!) for XBox and…just can’t get into it. Which I hate, because this kind of game is right up my alley.
Sadly, at least in my own subjective opinion, PS players aren’t missing out on much.
@KundaliniRising333 I had the complete opposite impression, last I heard From Soft gave all it's employees a pay rise in appreciation of their efforts. But then again I don't follow gaming news too closely, so I might be misinformed.
@Bez87 exactly Microsoft have to release they’re exclusives on PlayStation because nobody really buying Xbox’s like that. bloodborne sold like 8 million copies on ps4 and that’s before the Elden ring popularity. Fromsoftware games will still sell well if they release on PlayStation first and pc later.
@dskatter I don't like Bethesda RPGs. I try, but I lose interest very fast. I mean, I do think it should be played by as many people as possible, but it's not something I care about either.
There really is such a thing as "too much" and I feel like their games are full of too many distractions.
If a game is 20% main story content and 80% unrelated side content, I lose interest. Plus, I don't feel like the side content has any real reward for doing it. Getting an above average piece of loot isn't a reward to me. The "experience of doing it" also isn't a reward for me.
This is generally why I prefer JRPGs as they are like 80% main story content and 20% side content. That side content usually results in something useful - like a powerful weapon or armor piece.
Kadokawa: Let Sony solo this
They dont like how the company handled cyber attacks with personal data or emails being leaked so they want to go to sony🤔
@Bez87 10 to 1? That's news to me. Where did you hear that?
Sony is looking at this company as a whole for many of it's assets. Game development is just a very small piece of this puzzle.
…are they aware of how Sony notoriously handles cybersecurity?
Sounds like it’s a sure thing, as one can ever be, at this point.
@GamingFan4Lyf Disagree. Those that cost 10$ upgrade are for remaster. Not PS5 upgrade fee. All PS5 games if upgraded doesn't cost any. Remasters are much more than upgrade.
Now if only they didn't waste money on Bungie and used that money towards this instead
Removed - off-topic
Removed - off-topic
@nessisonett I don’t think it was cyber security they were upset about but the fact that it was swept under the rug and treated like nothing , at least Sony acknowledged it.
70 percent of elden ring sales where on ps and pc would it really be worth the trouble for Sony ,to develop the next games for series x and the headache that is series s,and would making it exclusive ps and pc cause a boost in ps5 sales , lots of things to consider if the buyout goes through.
honestly i wouldn't be too shocked if they use this as hey we still will release some games on your console (xbox) , as long as we can get elder scrolls 6 whenever that comes out. and maybe a few others.
Make it happen sony.it would be a game changer.that would be a big deal.word up son
Careful what you wish for. Buyouts often mean ‘restructuring’ which is essentially corporate speak for (some) layoffs.
Can they just buy another crap western game dev instead? Maybe blooberteam?
@JustCameHereToSay @cburg
10 to 1 quite simple, maybe more to be honest.
Forces.com as of Sept 2024
PS5 61.7m
Xbox series X/S 28.3m
Many other websites giving out the same numbers,
Let's put that into perspective.
PS5 OG, PS5 SLIM, same exact console.
Sales figures are all the same
Xbox Series X (Flagship Console)
Xbox Series S (inferior troubled Console for developers)
Sales figures are Combined making it harder to determine individual figures.
It means that even at half each it's only 14m and what's to say that many who bought an Xbox for Maybe there child, just bought a series s which could suggest that the series S is Xbox best selling console out of the 2. We just don't actually know.
Which paints a very dire picture of the Xbox brand right now.
All this is just from September, let alone the pro launching and with the ps5 sale, that number could be alot bigger and faster growing.
Let alone with Christmas just a week away.
So with those figures and then splitting the figures, would it even be worth spending excess money to port the game to not only Series X but having to figure it all out to get it on Series S?
@Bez87 10 to 1 would be 6.1 million Xbox consoles sold. Very interesting source of information you have. Despite your narrative, Microsoft gaming division will soon surpass Sony in revenue and profit. No need to worship a box under your TV. Enjoy games as well as the games coming to PlayStation from Microsoft owned studios. Microsoft will enjoy taking your money to invest in making other great games.
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Removed - flaming/arguing
@sonicmeerkat this is much more then a game studio purchase , they are mostly in it for their anime studio and they aren't piecing it all out , they want to sell the entire thing or nothing.
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