Sony has just confirmed its plan to take over Kadokawa Corporation, the parent company of FromSoftware, weeks after reports about possible acquisition talks surfaced. This was through an interview with Yahoo Japan, where it was noted that Sony made an “initial declaration of intent” to proceed with the acquisition.
While neither company commented on the reported discussions when they first emerged in November, Kadokawa has since confirmed Sony’s interest. In a statement released last month, Kadokawa said, “There are some articles regarding the acquisition of KADOKAWA Corporation by Sony Group Inc. However, this information has not been officially announced by the Company.” The statement confirmed that an initial letter of intent had been received but no final decision had been made.
If the acquisition is successful, Sony would gain access to a valuable portfolio of intellectual properties, including video games, anime, and manga. The most significant highlight of this potential deal is the ownership of FromSoftware, known for its critically acclaimed and commercially successful titles such as Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Kadokawa currently retains a majority stake of 69.66% in FromSoftware, while Sony already has a significant stake in the company. In 2022, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Tencent collectively purchased 30.34% of FromSoftware shares, with Sony holding a stake of 14.09%.
Reports in November said Sony’s interest in Kadokawa reflected a broader strategy to elevate its entertainment portfolio, according to sources, with any deal likely to be struck soon.
