Sony is reportedly in talks to acquire Kadokawa Corporation, a major Japanese conglomerate that owns a range of subsidiaries, including studio FromSoftware, Spike Chunsoft ( ), and – most ironically – Acquire ( ). Kadokawa is also a major name in the anime and manga space, owning a range of media production companies (ENGI, Doga Kobo, EuropaCorp), as well as notable publishers like Yen Press ( , ), which it co-owns with Hachette. Per , Sony is looking to add to its entertainment portfolio, expanding an existing 2% stake in Kadokawa to acquire the company outright.
Talks are believed to be ongoing, and a deal could be signed by the end of 2024. Responding to a inquiry, Sony reportedly declined to comment on the matter, and Kadokawa said it “cannot” comment. Kadokawa’s potential Sony acquisition is a major concern The news of a potential Kadokawa acquisition by Sony has not gone down well online, with many expressing concern about yet more acquisitions by a major company, after years of layoffs and downsizing caused by growing monopolies.
Fresh in the minds of many is the recent shutdown of Firewalk Studios, which was acquired by Sony in mid-2023, and shut down just over a year later, following the releasing of the poorly-received live service shooter . Rival company Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in 2022, and then spent subsequent years initiating many rounds of layoffs, impacting thousands of employees. While acquisitions don’t necessarily lead to signific.