Sony is reportedly in talks to acquire Kadokawa , a major player in Japan’s entertainment industry, known for its game developer FromSoftware (Elden Ring), as well as its influence in the anime and manga industries. According to Reuters, “talks between the two sides are ongoing,” and if successful, “a deal could be signed in the coming weeks.” Kadokawa operates across multiple sectors, owning subsidiaries in film, gaming, and publishing.
Its game developers include FromSoftware, Acquire, and Spike Chunsoft. Kadokawa also owns the anime studio Doga Kobo and holds stakes in studios like Kinema Citrus and ENGI. It publishes manga, light novels, and magazines and operates BookWalker, an e-book platform for manga and light novels, as well as J-Novel Club, which translates Japanese light novels into English.
Kadokawa also has a significant stake in Yen Press, a leading English publisher of manga, light novels, and webtoons. The company’s IPs include popular titles like Delicious in Dungeon and Oshi no Ko. Sony’s anime arm, Aniplex, is already a powerhouse, with studios like A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks under its wing, producing hits like Lycoris Recoil and Bocchi the Rock.
Sony also owns Crunchyroll, one of the largest anime streaming platforms, and works closely with Ufotable, which is the studio behind Demon Slayer. If Sony acquires Kadokawa, it will gain unprecedented control over the anime industry, consolidating major IPs and distribution platforms. This deal fol.
