Will From Software games become PlayStation exclusives? This future is not impossible now that Sony is preparing to buy Kadokawa. The news agency Reuters revealed the news this morning to everyone's surprise. According to their information, PlayStation's parent company is in talks to acquire the Japanese entertainment giant. In 2022, Sony and Tencent had already obtained shares in the Elden Ring studio, but the stakes are very different this time around. Kadokawa is not only the company to at the head of From Software: it is a massive corporation in charge of many forms of media.
In broad terms, the group notably owns the video game magazine Famitsu, studios such as Spike Chunsoft (Danganronpa, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero...) and Acquire (Octopath Traveler, Mario & Luigi: The Epic Brotherhood...) as well as Japan's most popular video platform: Niconico. On the archipelago, this possible acquisition is therefore particularly symbolic. In addition to the possibility of bringing many franchises under its umbrella, Sony is also set to expand its place in the manga and animation industry.
What impact on the Japanese cultural industry?
According to Reuters's sources, discussions are well underway and could conclude in the coming weeks. Will Sony start 2025 with a new cultural arsenal under its belt? Between the mixed performance of the PlayStation 5 Pro and the half-confessed failure PlayStation VR 2, the Japanese company has every interest in strengthening its positions in other areas. The question of a rapprochement between the manufacturer and new video game studios is already exciting the industry, but it would be a shame to overshadow other major acquisitions.
Kadokawa is also a leader in manga, animation and derivative products. By acquiring such a behemoth, Sony could secure a place of choice in many popular areas. On the side of anime production, the company would then be in charge of renowned series such as Dungeons and Gluttons, Re:Zero or Konosuba to name a few. Now, only the future will tell us if the acquisition of Kadokawa will really impact these studios and their productions. Sony will have every interest in staying the course to avoid offending players and spectators. While waiting for further news, let us recall that the nomination of the Elden Ring DLC in the category “game of the year” at the Game Awards did not fail to make a lot of noise.
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