Reuters: Sony in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring', sources say

mibu no ookami

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21 Feb 2024
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Oh yeah, I'm just saying maybe he did have a hand in this... Who knows.

I give him a hard time but it's just based on what I see and don't agree with. It's nothing personal.


While discussing the company’s purchase of a minority stake in the Elden Ring developer, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst told Reuters: “You should think of collaborations on the game development side first and foremost, but it’s also not unthinkable with our PlayStation Productions efforts that we explore opportunities.”

PlayStation Productions is one of the latest arms of Sony’s PlayStation empire, focusing on adapting PlayStation franchises for film and television.

While Sony is yet to use an IP that isn’t its own in a PlayStation Productions presentation, its now-established relationship with FromSoftware may lead to a non-gaming-based product coming from the franchise.

Hulst’s comments imply that an Elden Ring or Bloodborne film or TV series could be considered, due to Sony’s investment in the group.


So he was involved in the purchasing of a minority stake in FromSoftware 2 years ago, but we're going to pretend like he had nothing to do with this?

It's not a maybe. He's involved if not the driving force behind this.
 

Loy310

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14 Aug 2022
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Anime/Streaming.

For the games, not so much, Sony have enough gaming studios so From wont make a difference, and they could prolly divest FS to get this past regulators if need be.

Sony doing this for all the anime.
 

Neversummer

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27 Jun 2023
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Bloober Team would be insanely cheap and could offer Silent Hill exclusivity forever, at least console wise, since exclusivity doesn’t exist for playstation anymore
eh bloober team still has to perform w a new ip & likely multiple to be consider worth for a acquisition. Thoe if proven they wouldn’t be bad they did marvelous work w SH.

I think in the RN & short term Kadokawa, Square Enix & Dragon Quest.

Studio wise Arc System Work allready have a proven track record. Level 5 has potential if PS wants to revive old JRPG or if they bought Square Enix & or making AA JRPG games using some of Sony/PS ip like Demon Slayer, Legend of Dragoon, Wild Arms, GOW or smaller AA games in general like Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, Sly Cooper, Ape Edcape acting more of a japanese type insomniac helping crank annualized games from some of PS smaller but notable franchises + them working JRPG. There are also japanese/korea/chinese studios like the studio behind Withurin Wave, infinity nicki etc
 
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Explosive Zombie

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21 Jun 2022
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I'm sick of people talking about acquisitions being bad in general and doing this both sides bad thing. It's worse when Microsoft does it because everything they touch turns to shit and we've seen that proven over and over again. Sony legitimately cultivates talent and we see great things from the studios they acquire. The only thing to worry about here is that it won't be a real acquisition it'll be like bungie again where they don't make anything exclusive.
 
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Vertigo

Did you show the Darkness what Light can do?
26 Jun 2022
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I don’t see them rolling From into PS studios. Will be surprised if it happens.

Xbox support doesn’t matter anymore. Dead platform that doesn't have paying consumers.
 
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Vertigo

Did you show the Darkness what Light can do?
26 Jun 2022
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… I guess this is why Sony split their stock. Will be keeping close eye on my shares. Looking to double them over the next year. (Made bets on both Sony and netease).
 
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Petekilla

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I'm sick of people talking about acquisitions being bad in general and doing this both sides bad thing. It's worse when Microsoft does it because everything they touch turns to shit and we've seen that proven over and over again. Sony legitimately cultivates talent and we see great things from the studios they acquire. The only thing to worry about here is that it won't be a real acquisition it'll be like bungie again where they don't make anything exclusive.
This is what someone on Era said. LMAO

“I have no confidence in Sony managing FROM. They were blind to the potential of Demon's Souls and basically gave away the Souls franchise due to their ineptitude and inability to identify a unique product of stellar quality, while their handling of Bloodborne has been farcical. The decision to wash their hands of Demon's Souls and the resultant revenue lost from future Souls titles also probably played a significant role in sealing Japan Studio's fate”.

“Sony's mismanagement this gen of their Western studios, their main focus, also does nothing to engender confidence”.
 

Petekilla

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16 Jun 2023
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don't count your chickens before they hatch! Sony is only in talks to buy, Nothing concrete yet.
Yeah Sony has had acquisition talks fall through before. They’re like the guy that goes on dates with hot women, but doesn’t close the deal with them. The reason why they got Bungie was because they’ve been passed around, and no one wanted them.
 

Eternal_Wings

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24 Jun 2022
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Yeah Sony has had acquisition talks fall through before. They’re like the guy that goes on dates with hot women, but doesn’t close the deal with them. The reason why they got Bungie was because they’ve been passed around, and no one wanted them.
Wishful thinking. This merger will 100% happen.
 

ghostwriter74

Active member
27 Jun 2023
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I'm surprised that it comes as such a surprise to so many. During the ABK era, many assumed that Sony should buy Square Enix or Kadokawa. Kadokawa always made more sense because they have a broad range of media. Until now, Kadokawa didn't want to sell, but that seems to have changed. To be honest, Sony and Kadokawa have often worked together in Japan and produced anime exclusively for Crunchyroll, and SIE also works closely with From Software and owns shares.

After the Paramount takeover didn't work out, it was clear that Sony would continue to sound out the market. The only question that remains is whether they want to take over Kadokawa completely or just parts of it. Sony didn't want everything from Paramount either, which is why the deal fell through (in my opinion, fortunately). If Sony doesn't get Kadokawa either, the next (but more expensive) step would probably be to buy Bandai Namco, which also has a broad range of media in Japan. But Sony has to invest profits somehow, otherwise they will be reduced by rising inflation and currency losses. Perhaps the current economic situation in Japan is the decisive reason for Kadokawa to now consider a takeover, and Sony is certainly the preferred buyer over Tencent or the Saudis.
 
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