There it is, the deal has been announced. Sony and KADOKAWA have "signed a strategic capital and business alliance agreement" that will make Sony the largest shareholder. It's not done just yet though, as the deal is set to go through on January 7, 2025.
Sony will acquire 12,054,100 new KADOKAWA shares for "approximately 50 billion yen", this will bump up Sony to have about 10% total shares in KADOKAWA and make them the largest holder overall. This is a big deal for video games, Anime and Manga since Kadokawa control FromSoftware (ELDEN RING, ARMORED CORE), Spike Chunsoft (Danganronpa, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO), ACQUIRE Corp. (OCTOPATH TRAVELER) and Gotcha Gotcha Games (RPG Maker) in addition to all their Anime and Manga publishing.
From the press release:
Comment from Takeshi Natsuno, Chief Executive Officer, KADOKAWA CORPORATION
"We are very pleased to conclude this capital and business alliance agreement with Sony. This alliance is expected to not only further strengthen our IP creation capabilities, but also increase our IP media mix options with Sony's support for global expansion, allowing us to deliver our IP to more users around the world. We are confident that this will greatly contribute to maximizing the value of our IP and increasing our corporate value in the mid- to long-term. We intend to do our utmost to ensure that our collaborative efforts with Sony produce great results in the global market."
Comment from Hiroki Totoki, President, COO and CFO, Sony Group Corporation
"Through this capital and business alliance, we will become the largest shareholder of KADOKAWA, which consistently creates a wide variety of IP, including publications and books, such as light novels and comics, as well as games and anime. By combining KADOKAWA's extensive IP and IP creation ecosystem with the strengths of Sony, which has promoted the global expansion of a wide range of entertainment, including anime and games, we plan to work closely together to realize KADOKAWA's 'Global Media Mix' strategy, aimed at maximizing the value of its IP, and Sony's long-term vision, 'Creative Entertainment Vision.'"
See more in the press release.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
ShadowXeldron 15 hours ago
<sigh>
My question is: Does anyone else think that Sony has lost the ability to innovate? It seems that they are stuck with randomly buying some successful company, closing it if there isn't a massive revenue stream at once and then switching to the next target…
I hate this.
Quoting: LupertEverettDumb af PSN account requirement for all of the games listed in the news (and much more) when?
I hate this.
I'm hoping the Elden Ring seamless coop mod will bypass any PSN requirements since it doesn't use FromSoft servers at all..
Viesta2015 13 hours ago
Last edited by Viesta2015 on 19 December 2024 at 3:15 pm UTC
Quoting: LupertEverettDumb af PSN account requirement for all of the games listed in the news (and much more) when?
I hate this.
I have to get through Eldin Ring now, before it is too late. But it is sooo hard.
Quoting: ZlopezR.I.P. From Software :-(
Why? It's a non-controlling share. They are one investor among many I would imagine.
Quoting: EhvisIt's 10% of the shares. Not exactly something that lets Sony control what's going to happen.
No probably more to ensure access on their platforms and discourage any future deals that would prevent releases on PS5/PS Plus/PS Now. They did the something similar with Epic and Discord for example.
Last edited by Brokatt on 19 December 2024 at 3:53 pm UTC
Quoting: KlaasThe name of the Sony president has to be the Japanese equivalent to Mäxchen Müller in German (i.e. a generic placeholder name).So, like Underhill in the Shire.
RandomizedKirbyTree47 10 hours ago
they are like... 1/3 of the anime industry? their gaming marketshare isnt even comparable.
if we consider that sony already own other anime companies and they own the biggest distributors of anime outside of japan (crunchroll and the former funimation that joined crunchroll)
this is a big monopoly!
Quoting: elmapulhonestly im tired of people suming up kadokawa as from software owners...
they are like... 1/3 of the anime industry? their gaming marketshare isnt even comparable.
if we consider that sony already own other anime companies and they own the biggest distributors of anime outside of japan (crunchroll and the former funimation that joined crunchroll)
this is a big monopoly!
Yep. Not just anime, manga, and games.
They're a big behemoth of light novel publishing.
Saekano, Re:Zero, Konosuba, almost all big hit light novel are their release.
Dwango's NicoNicoDouga (Japanese streaming platform) is also owned by them.
Their global presence also widespread, from Phoenix Gramedia (Indonesia), Bookwalker Taiwan, Anime News Network, Yes Press, Guangzhou Tianwen Kadokawa A&C, Kadokawa Gempak Starz (Malaysia), and so on.
Even all of these notable manga label/magazine are from them. I'm sure majority of you might not recognize these, but you might already read or even watch anime/live action adaptation from these label. ( even majority of "manga reader" only know Shueisha's Shonen Jump lol).
Quoting: kleponQuoting: elmapulhonestly im tired of people suming up kadokawa as from software owners...
they are like... 1/3 of the anime industry? their gaming marketshare isnt even comparable.
if we consider that sony already own other anime companies and they own the biggest distributors of anime outside of japan (crunchroll and the former funimation that joined crunchroll)
this is a big monopoly!
Yep. Not just anime, manga, and games.
They're a big behemoth of light novel publishing.
Saekano, Re:Zero, Konosuba, almost all big hit light novel are their release.
Dwango's NicoNicoDouga (Japanese streaming platform) is also owned by them.
Their global presence also widespread, from Phoenix Gramedia (Indonesia), Bookwalker Taiwan, Anime News Network, Yes Press, Guangzhou Tianwen Kadokawa A&C, Kadokawa Gempak Starz (Malaysia), and so on.
Even all of these notable manga label/magazine are from them. I'm sure majority of you might not recognize these, but you might already read or even watch anime/live action adaptation from these label. ( even majority of "manga reader" only know Shueisha's Shonen Jump lol).
when i said anime and manga, i implied light novels as well, its kinda of tiresome to type it all so i simplified a bit for... lazyness or because i forgot.
HOLYSHIT, they own niconico too? that alone is a reason for concern, we are REALLY screwed
Quoting: KlaasThe name of the Sony president has to be the Japanese equivalent to Mäxchen Müller in German (i.e. a generic placeholder name).
My question is: Does anyone else think that Sony has lost the ability to innovate? It seems that they are stuck with randomly buying some successful company, closing it if there isn't a massive revenue stream at once and then switching to the next target…
I feel they lost it years ago, at least for me
I grew up with ps1, then ps2 in my teen years and the amount of fun games hold alot of memories
But things like the GOW reboots and Last of Us ect isn't my cup of tea, I want fun platformers, or quirky games like Mr.mosquito, or super rub a tub on the ps3
Apart from astro bot there's not really much on the ps5 that makes me feel I need to buy one
and even things like the anniversary themes that appeal to someone like me, its time limited apparently! What a shame
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