Kadokawa, Owner of Elden Ring Developer FromSoftware, Acknowledges Sony’s Interest in Acquisition Yet States “No Decision Made Yet”

Kadokawa Corporation, which holds the reins of beloved game developer FromSoftware—known for hits like Elden Ring, Bloodborne, and the Dark Souls series—has confirmed receiving a preliminary proposal from Sony expressing interest in acquiring its shares. However, as of now, no final decision has been taken regarding whether Kadokawa will proceed with selling to Sony.

Recently, a Reuters report stirred the pot by revealing ongoing discussions between Sony and Kadokawa, hinting that an agreement could be in the cards “in the coming weeks,” assuming these negotiations bear fruit.

CEO Takeshi Natsuno addressed the buzz surrounding the talks in a statement from Kadokawa, released following a boost in the company’s share prices. It seems investors are particularly excited by the potential of a corporate shake-up—likely a skill refined at finance schools, where such news creates a frenzy. “While some reports have emerged regarding Sony Group Inc acquiring Kadokawa Corporation,” Natsuno clarified, “this is not information we have officially announced. We have indeed received an initial expression of interest concerning our shares, but no decisions have been finalized at this stage.”

He further reassured, “Should there be any developments worth noting in the future, we will communicate these promptly and accordingly.”

So, it appears the possibility of an acquisition remains up in the air, with Sony yet to voice any official comments on the matter as this update goes live.

As previously noted in our coverage of the initial report, a Sony acquisition of Kadokawa would entail more than gaining control of FromSoftware. It would also include developers like Spike Chunsoft, known for Danganronpa, Acquire, who co-developed Octopath Traveler, and Gotcha Gotcha Games, the makers of RPG Maker. This move could also have significant ramifications in the anime and manga sectors, as these are substantial arms of Kadokawa’s business operations.

What are your thoughts on the prospect of Sony potentially snapping up Kadokawa and thereby becoming the primary owner of FromSoftware? We’d love to hear your opinions below!