Sony in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa, Owner of FromSoftware and Spike Chunsoft

Nov 19, 2024, 12:25 PM

Sony is reportedly in talks to acquire Kadokawa Corporation, the Japanese media conglomerate with a market capitalization of approximately $2.7 billion. Kadokawa owns FromSoftware, the developer of the critically acclaimed games "Elden Ring" and the "Dark Souls" series. The acquisition would expand Sony's entertainment portfolio, adding notable properties in video games, anime, and manga, including studios like "Octopath Traveler" developer Acquire and Spike Chunsoft, known for "Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero." Sony and Tencent already own parts of FromSoftware. Negotiations are ongoing, with a potential deal expected in the coming weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter. Following news of the talks, Kadokawa's shares surged up to 23%, reaching the daily limit-high on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Sony declined to comment on the matter, while Kadokawa stated that "nothing has been decided at this moment." The move aligns with Sony's aim to gain rights to works and content through acquisitions, reducing its dependence on new hit titles.