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

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Same thing with X, Musk told the wanted to buy Twitter and it took 1-2 months for the deal to be fully made (and he still wanted to go back on it)

I don’t believe that’s the same thing. That was publicly announced the day of. Reuters first reported on this saying the deal could happen in a few weeks. Which means talks with Sony and Kadokawa were already happening.

Kadokawa today confirming Sony wants to buy because the deal went public.

I don’t care either way in the timeframe but yeah.
 
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Puff

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Impulse

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I generally don't like acquisitions (basically nothing in it for the consumer).

However, if you want SIE to lean more Japanese in its decision making then this might be actually a good thing for you.

The reason SIE's HQ is in California is because its top selling studios are all based in the West (specifically Cali/Seattle/Portland/Amsterdam, all very liberal places), so it's entirely logical to set the HQ where time differences won't cause issues in collaboration and whatever logistics are needed. Adding studio houses like From and Spike Chunsoft to this mix ensures that the Japanese side will have promotion candidates with a proven track record in making Sony money, who can go up the ladder and see about changing things as needed (they might not end up being what you want though, so beware lol).
 

Eternal_Wings

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I generally don't like acquisitions (basically nothing in it for the consumer).

However, if you want SIE to lean more Japanese in its decision making then this might be actually a good thing for you.

The reason SIE's HQ is in California is because its top selling studios are all based in the West (specifically Cali/Seattle/Portland/Amsterdam, all very liberal places), so it's entirely logical to set the HQ where time differences won't cause issues in collaboration and whatever logistics are needed. Adding studio houses like From and Spike Chunsoft to this mix ensures that the Japanese side will have promotion candidates with a proven track record in making Sony money, who can go up the ladder and see about changing things as needed (they might not end up being what you want though, so beware lol).
The days of the Californian PlayStation are numbered. The rumours about Sony reallocating the PlayStation HQ back to Japan are most likely true. Totoki is fed up with the expenses of the USA. Also get used to that Totoki will shrink those monstrous budgets of ND, SSM, Insomniac etc.
The biggest proof is that Sony didn't go for Paramount. They decided against going for big western companies and chose instead to go the Pro-Japan route. PlayStation will go back to Japan.
 
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Yurinka

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Imagine Elden Ring 2 being PS exclusive!
Kadokawa is very complex, with many subsidiaries that at the same time have multiple subsidiaries from many different businesses. I think they should move FromSoft and Acquire to PS Studios to make them console exclusive, but I think they won't.

I think that if Sony acquires them will be in a Bungie way: I think that instead of putting them under PS Studios making their game console exclusive, they'll let them as it is under SIE or -maybe more likely, because it's where Sony has most of its anime and Japanese music- Sony Music Japan because gaming is a small part of Kadokawa's business and their big part is the manganime/books one.

Meaning, I assume that in the future there will be PS Studios published Bloodborne 2 or Demon's Souls 2 that will be console exclusive, but also may have -apparently this time published by FromSoft/Kadokawa- multiplatform games like Elden Ring 2 or Sekiro 2, more Armored Core etc.

The days of the Californian PlayStation are numbered. The rumours about Sony reallocating the PlayStation HQ back to Japan are most likely true. Totoki is fed up with the expenses of the USA. Also get used to that Totoki will shrink those monstrous budgets of ND, SSM, Insomniac etc.
The biggest proof is that Sony didn't go for Paramount. They decided against going for big western companies and chose instead to go the Pro-Japan route. PlayStation will go back to Japan.
Sony tried to acquire Universal, they made their offer. The Universal main stakeholders are the ones who decided to don't sell to Sony and sell to other candidate instead.

There are no rumors or any hints leading to think SIE would move their SIE HQ.

Totoki asked to be more efficient with the profitability and take more responsabilities with the failures, so did shut down some studios and games and did cut some extra fat with the global layoff. I think that's all, they won't do any meaningful change beyond this and putting Hermen and Nishino as co-CEOs.

They made some acquisitions in recent years that happened to be western studios, and this time happens to be Japanese. But they are not choosing them because of their nationality, but instead because of when they had the opportunity to acquire them.
 
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Neversummer

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If this merger happens, then Fromsoftware and Accquire will be structured definitely under PlayStation Japan.
Don’t forget Spike Chunsoft there amazing at smaller AA JRPG a great addition for PS since they been ignoring JRPG at a first party level
 

Yurinka

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That's why his counterpart Nishino exists. He is responsible for whole Japan + Asia.
No, Hermen is in charge of the first party games and related products (like movie/tv show adaptations) worldwide.

Nishino is in charge of hardware/OS/PSN/marketing/accesories/3rd party worldwide.

If they acquire them and put Kadokawa/Fromsoft inside SIE, then Hermen would be their boss, as happens with Bungie (or with Team Asobi, XDEV Japan and Polyphony).

But the biggest business of Kadokawa is their manga and anime, not gaming. So probably Sony would put them under Aniplex (Sony Music Japan), who handles most of their anime stuff.
 

Gods&Monsters

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I don't like the way they are talking about it publicly. It's like Kadokawa is trying to force Sony to pay more.

Is it bad news that it leaked?
 
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Vertigo

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Just realized…

Elden Ring has the George RR Martin rub and has a universe that Sony would probably love to build on with film and tv. That’s money.

Unfortunately I still dont think we’re getting a Miyazaki directed Bloodborne 2. Elden Ring eclipses all their previous work in regards to recognition etc.