Sony Eyes Kadokawa Acquisition: Anime Giant Confirms Interest

Kadokawa confirms tech giant Sony’s interest in acquiring additional shares, issuing an official statement, while negotiations continue. Further details regarding the ongoing discussions between these two corporate behemoths are forthcoming.

Kadokawa Confirms Sony’s Interest“No Decision Yet”

Japanese conglomerate Kadokawa Corporation has issued an official statement confirming receipt of "a letter of intent to acquire the Company’s (Kadokawa Corporation) shares" from Sony, but noted that no decision has been finalized. Future announcements regarding any developments will be made "in a timely and appropriate manner."

This official announcement follows yesterday’s Reuters report that Sony is seeking to acquire the Japanese media giant Kadokawa, whose holdings encompass anime, manga, and video games. Sony's acquisition of Kadokawa would bring Elden Ring developer FromSoftware under its umbrella, along with other prominent studios such as Spike Chunsoft (Dragon Quest), and Acquire (Mario & Luigi: Brothership). With the tech giant's support, FromSoftware’s other PlayStation exclusives like Dark Souls and Bloodborne could see a resurgence.

A successful deal could also expand Sony's influence in Western anime and manga publishing and distribution, given Kadokawa's significant role in media distribution. However, online reaction to the news has been largely muted. For further details, see Game8’s previous article on the Sony-Kadokawa acquisition discussions.