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

OP
OP
Puff

Puff

Veteran
10 Jan 2023
1,500
3,655
Kadokawa has few stable shareholders and, with the founding family no longer on the management team, the company has lost its identity, so there have been talks of an acquisition for some time.
There was talk of a foreign acquisition of Seven & I Holdings, so they must have been rushing to find a buyer for the domestic company. Recently, Korean financial institutions and funds have been emerging as top shareholders.

I understand the feeling that it would be better to have a company in Japan than to be controlled by foreign capital. Sony is very strong in media, so it might be the best place for KADOKAWA to sell to. There are not many companies that can complete light novels and anime in-house.
 

Gods&Monsters

Banned
21 Jun 2022
5,607
11,467

Kakao from Korea is the biggest shareholder of Kadokawa. Sony looks cheap with their 2%. They are the lowest 🤡

Major shareholders: Kadokawa Corporation
NameEquities%Valuation
Kakao Investment Co., Ltd.
8.870 %
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
6.859 %
Masao Kawakami
4.783 %
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.
4.576 %
Kadokawa Corp.
4.412 %
Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd.
4.312 %
Nippon Life Insurance Co.
2.418 %
Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.
2.158 %
Sony Group Corp.
2.007 %
 
  • Like
Reactions: Puff
2 Jun 2024
60
36
TBH, if Sony end up acquiring Kadokawa & From Software, they don't really need Square-Enix. Yes for bragging purposes saying you own Final Fantasy & Dragon Quest would be big, and SE seem on an upward trend these days between Rebirth, RS2R and DQIIIR....

...but that said, Kadokawa & From Software just bring more overall value to the company and even SIE. So I can see where acquiring Square-Enix would look redundant.
finale fantasy is also kind of losing a bit of steam along with square and sales expectations
 
2 Jun 2024
60
36
Kakao from Korea is the biggest shareholder of Kadokawa. Sony looks cheap with their 2%. They are the lowest 🤡

Major shareholders: Kadokawa Corporation
NameEquities%Valuation
Kakao Investment Co., Ltd.
8.870 %
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
6.859 %
Masao Kawakami
4.783 %
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.
4.576 %
Kadokawa Corp.
4.412 %
Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd.
4.312 %
Nippon Life Insurance Co.
2.418 %
Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.
2.158 %
Sony Group Corp.
2.007 %
that maybe but their ones going to buy the whole thing with that 2% while none of them are making a move for it if they've been having talks with each other
 

Neversummer

Veteran
27 Jun 2023
1,591
1,555
In all of the discussions on other sites related to this deal, I see a whole bunch of hypocrites who were twerking for the ABK-Microsoft deal to go through now have problems with consolidation as if they are now gaming activists because of this rumor.

Where was this stance on consolation when everyone was saying, "I can't wait to get Diablo and COD on game pass"..?
Right I can’t wait till I get Elden Ring on PS+ & w this acquisition Fromsoft will be able tor each more gamers (through PS+ & making a multiplayer game across PS, PS PC launcher & mobile)
 

Yurinka

Veteran
VIP
21 Jun 2022
7,774
6,658
The subtle distinction is collaboration, vs. publishing. Sony bought about $120M USD of FromSoftware shares, which Kadokawa stated would be used for expanding international publishing.

pJNdibu.png


Sony could well be working on a joint title with FromSoftware, but Kadokawa was trying to establish FromSoftware's ability to publish independently in global markets, as there is a greater profit ceiling for future releases.
What you posted there is when Tencent and Sony bought FromSoft (not Kadokawa) shares in 2022 to invest on them and help them grow.

It is from a year later of what I mentioned, which was a different thing signed in 2021, when Kadokawa gave around 2% of Kadokawa (not FromSoft) shares to CyGames in exchange of helping them with mobile games and to Sony in exchange with helping them to expand globally in the console+PC games and anime markets (without detailing beyond saying that these channels will help reach a global audience to the IP/content made at Kadokawa in gaming and anime):
Capture-768x559.jpg

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-takes-1-9-stake-in-from-softwares-parent-company/

That makes the From Software like a bonus for Sony... they will own like 83% of From Software if they adquire Kodakawa.... 16% will continue with Tecent.
Tencent already owns a gazillion companies and invested in a gazillion others and FromSoft would be more important for Sony than for Tencent.

I assume that as long as Sony offers the right price, high enough to give Tencent a profit for the investment they made on FromSoft, Tencent would be open to sell Tencent's shares.

Plus Tencent has different deals with Sony, as could be in movies for the CrossFire movie (signed 4 years ago) or Tencent being the distributor in China of the Sony Music content (signed in 2021). Sony also parternered with basically all big Asian mobile gaming devs/publishers, so pretty likely may have something with Tencent too. I don't remember if Sony and Tencent already have some gaming related deal, but I'd say it's pretty likely.

I don't know, maybe Tencent helps Sony market / distribute the PS on China or something like that.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ethomaz

Neversummer

Veteran
27 Jun 2023
1,591
1,555
Let the carnival of hypocrisy begin!

It’s crazy how many people wanted Xbox to make these games exclusive but now saying how the future is 3rd party & releasing games on all platforms 💀

The big 3 in platform/storefront that continues to grow & see record profits are companies that have completely lockdown there first party exclusive to there hardware/storefront.

The only ones in a decline are Xbox & to a degree PS. Those who have diminishing there hardware, platform, storefront & entire ecosystem by no longer having permanent first party exclusive to drive consumers & 3rd party publishers to your platform
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kokoloko

Kokoloko

Veteran
Icon Extra
21 Jun 2022
5,987
4,711
It’s crazy how many people wanted Xbox to make these games exclusive but now saying how the future is 3rd party & releasing games on all platforms 💀

The big 3 in platform/storefront that continues to grow & see record profits are companies that have completely lockdown there first party exclusive to there hardware/storefront.

The only ones in a decline are Xbox & to a degree PS. Those who have diminishing there hardware, platform, storefront & entire ecosystem by no longer having permanent first party exclusive to drive consumers & 3rd party publishers to your platform

Sony needs to do things to better there company. This is one the fans want.
Anyone who doesnt want this for PS are people who arent fans. They dont have to be fans, thats fine.
But if this is true, its the best thing Sony has done in awhile. Apart from Insonmiac, this is theremost logical move in ages
 
  • brain
Reactions: Landiri

Neversummer

Veteran
27 Jun 2023
1,591
1,555
finale fantasy is also kind of losing a bit of steam along with square and sales expectations
Is it really thoe? Final fantasy 16 & 7 rebirth sold 3 million first week on 1 platform w 30-50 million consoles while dragon dogma & re 4 sold 3 million the first 1 to month on 5+ platforms nearly 500 customers combine yet that is deem a success.

It’s more of Square Enix thinking FF will sell 10-20 million first week/month. Not even spiderman & GOW sell above 5+ million first week.

Owning Square Enix is still more valuable. PS wants to revive a PS Allstars for EVO they need to own ip so they don’t run to another FF Astro bot situation. PS Allstars kart racer & or PS home where you can buy cosmetic using gaming ip you need to own up to full create & control a meta verse. Also to lockdown ip against competitors if PS makes a PS Allstars 2 having Fromsoft, Sauare Enix ip lockdown exclusive to that fighting game & not on the next smash is massive in competing.

Also for some reason Square Enix owns the original characters in Mario RPG somehow they own Boshi the Blue Yoshi like Dino w glasses so PS could use him for merchandise, new games/new ip & or a fighting game as a meme character.

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e7/be/e8/e7bee8e4befd5ec2f47aa92445fa166e.jpg
 
  • brain
Reactions: Gods&Monsters

anonpuffs

Veteran
Icon Extra
29 Nov 2022
10,491
11,933
I think Tencent would be happy to sell their shares in Fromsoft. They already pulled other investments back from JP game dev because they don't see it as a growth area.
 

Landiri

Well-known member
12 Sep 2024
330
381
Sony needs to do things to better there company. This is one the fans want.
Anyone who doesnt want this for PS are people who arent fans. They dont have to be fans, thats fine.
But if this is true, its the best thing Sony has done in awhile. Apart from Insonmiac, this is theremost logical move in ages
Sony buying Japanese Developers, while ideally also moving away from the US, would be the best thing they did in a while!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dabaus

mibu no ookami

Veteran
21 Feb 2024
2,220
2,019
that maybe but their ones going to buy the whole thing with that 2% while none of them are making a move for it if they've been having talks with each other

Not sure we know who has made moves to buy, but it's clear that they want to keep the company Japanese and the threat of growing foreign investment makes that really difficult to guarantee.

Bandai Namco is in an interesting position assuming those are voting shares. If I'm them, I don't want Sony to buy because they'll be locked out for sure, but they might not have a better choice.
 
  • they're_right_you_know
Reactions: Puff

Dabaus

Veteran
28 Jun 2022
3,071
4,695
If it’s true that kadokawa came to Sony, I wonder if the idea that they’d have to pay a premium isn’t as relevant as people think? Like if maybe this a 3.5- 4 billion dollar deal, if that? Getting from software, who also allegedly owns the Elden ring, sekiro, armored core, and like half the publishing rights to dark souls isn’t bad just for all that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Puff

DarkLordOtaku

Veteran
18 Oct 2024
605
318
30
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
What you posted there is when Tencent and Sony bought FromSoft (not Kadokawa) shares in 2022 to invest on them and help them grow.

It is from a year later of what I mentined, which was a different thing signed in 2021, when Kadokawa game around 2% of Kadokawa (not FromSoft) shares to CyGames in exchange of helping them with mobile games and to Sony in exchange with helping them to expand globally in the console+PC games and anime markets:
Thank you for providing the additional resources and context, so we can stay informed on the subject.

The post you'd quoted was suggesting that it was a probability that From's next game would be published by Sony.

Your response, as you've reiterated here, discussed how it was an easy guess that they were working on something together.

My response to you was only intended to underline a distinction that Sony could be collaborating with From, with a lesser likelihood of a Sony publishing agreement. I explicitly mentioned From not as a response directly to what you wrote, but indirectly to the assumption laid forth in the post you'd quoted.

Apologies if I was unclear, due to a bit of reply leapfrog logic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: voke

mibu no ookami

Veteran
21 Feb 2024
2,220
2,019
If it’s true that kadokawa came to Sony, I wonder if the idea that they’d have to pay a premium isn’t as relevant as people think? Like if maybe this a 3.5- 4 billion dollar deal, if that? Getting from software, who also allegedly owns the Elden ring, sekiro, armored core, and like half the publishing rights to dark souls isn’t bad just for all that.

The premium comes from the need to convince shareholders to vote in favor of losing their shares it has nothing to do with what leadership has going on.

Demon's Souls can take over for Dark Souls.
 
  • Like
Reactions: voke

toadsage44

Well-known member
22 Jun 2022
364
496
West Virginia, USA
The taste of bot tears from this is the holiday gift that keeps giving. I love hearing from bots, who have never given a shit about the anime industry, about how damaging this will be to anime and how it should be blocked for the sake of the industry. I'll admit, I was against Bethesda and Activision getting bought by MS, and now I'm all for this. Is it a double standard? Yes. Do I care? No.
 

Petekilla

Veteran
16 Jun 2023
1,754
1,778
The taste of bot tears from this is the holiday gift that keeps giving. I love hearing from bots, who have never given a shit about the anime industry, about how damaging this will be to anime and how it should be blocked for the sake of the industry. I'll admit, I was against Bethesda and Activision getting bought by MS, and now I'm all for this. Is it a double standard? Yes. Do I care? No.
It’s not just bots. PC fanboys are also losing their 💩 over this. LMAO 😂