Sony, parent company of PlayStation, is reportedly in discussions to purchase Kadokawa, parent company of Elden Ring maker From Software. The two companies have been talking, and it’s apparently possible an acquisition could be announced in the weeks ahead.
According to Reuters, a possible acquisition would see Sony own the rights to Elden Ring and future games from From Software, also known for Demon Souls (already owned by Sony) and Dark Souls (controlled by publisher Bandai Namco). Acquire, behind Tenchu, and Spike Chunsoft, behind Danganronpa, also sit under Kadokawa’s umbrella and presumably would be part of any merger. Sony already owns a 2% stake in the company.
Kadokawa’s portfolio doesn’t just include gaming, though. The company also has a hand in anime and manga, behind franchises like Re:Zero and Delicious in Dungeon. In 2021, Sony acquired anime streaming service Crunchyroll for over $1 billion.
Elden Ring is one of the biggest video games in the world, selling over 25 million copies before the launch of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The action-RPG was also GameSpot’s Game of the Year for 2022.
In June, Shadow of the Erdtree launched to critical and commercial praise. The Elden Ring expansion is nominated for multiple The Game Awards 2024 categories, including Game of the Year.
Meanwhile, last month, Sony shuttered Concord developer Firewalk Studios after the shooter’s failed launch. Earlier this year, Sony also cut roughly 900 gaming jobs and canceled PlayStation projects.
