Since it was leaked that Sony might be interested in taking over Kodokawa, From Software's parent company, controversial opinions have emerged.
Will Sony really take over the media group Kadokawa, the parent company of From Software, and thus take Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Bloodborne, among others, under the Playstation wing? You don't know. There are said to have already been discussions, but no decision has been made yet.
Be that as it may, discussions about a possible takeover are bubbling up and quite controversial. For the business analystTakahiro SuzukiIt is clear that the takeover would be a gain for Sony, while Kadokawa would have little benefit from it. Through a takeover, Kadokawa would lose its independence and would no longer have the opportunity to act as freely as before. They would have to be prepared for publications that do not lead to the creation of brands to be scrutinized.
On the other hand, however, it is also reported that Kadokawa employees have absolutely nothing against a takeover by Sony and that apparently has something to do with the management team. "People around me are excited about the prospect of a Sony takeover," said an unnamed Kadokawa employee. "This is because a certain number of employees are dissatisfied with the Natsuno administration, which did not even bother to hold a press conference after people's personal information was compromised in the cyberattack [Editor's note: im "In the summer of 2024, Kadokawa was the victim of a hack in which, among other things, personal data was leaked. They expect that if the company were taken over, Sony would fire the president first."
Of course, it also remains to be seen what impact a possible takeover would have on From Software's product range. Given the popularity of Elden Ring, it wouldn't be unlikely if Sony were to flirt with exclusives for the PlayStation. But well, first it remains to be seen whether the Kadokawa takeover will actually be implemented.
Sony has at least now confirmed that it is interested in a takeover: "It is true that we have made an initial declaration of intent. We would appreciate it if you would allow us to refrain from further comments."
The long wait is over and the big add-on Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is finally starting.
