December 13, 2024 – Following the exposure of Sony’s plans to acquire Kadokawa Group, the parent company of FromSoftware, last month, Kadokawa swiftly issued a statement acknowledging the matter. Sony also confirmed these rumors during an interview with Shukan Bunshun yesterday, although they declined to elaborate further.
A Sony Group spokesperson stated, “We have indeed issued a preliminary statement of intent, and we would appreciate it if you would allow us to refrain from making any further comments.”
According to a new report published by Bunshun after Sony’s confirmation, a senior Kadokawa employee claimed that others within the company are “excited about the prospect of the acquisition” because “many employees are dissatisfied with the management of its president, Tsugihiko Kadokawa.” The employee added, “If Sony acquires the company, they will fire the president first.”
Sony previously held a 2% stake in Kadokawa and had also invested in its popular game studio, FromSoftware. The combination of Kadokawa, which owns numerous IPs, and Sony could be considered a powerful alliance. However, some analysts believe that the merger would not benefit Kadokawa, as the loss of independence could put it at a disadvantage in the publishing industry.
