Table of Contents
Only yesterday we learned that Sony would be interested in buying Kadokawa, the company that owns the From Software studio —known for titles like Blooborne y Elden Ring—. If these reports turn out to be true, this could be welcome news for fans of PlayStation. The truth is that, today, Kadokawa has made an official statement in this regard, in which he confirmed Sony’s intentions to acquire shares in the company.
Sony’s Potential Acquisition of Kadokawa Could Have Major Implications on the Anime Industry
Kadokawa confirmed that it received a first letter of intent for the acquisition of its shares, but “no decision has been made at the moment.” The company will make an announcement “if there are any developments that need to be announced in the future.” However, according to Reuters sources, talks are ongoing and the purchase could become official in the coming weeks. On the other hand, Sony declined to comment on the matter. Currently, Sony owns 2% of the shares of Kadokawa and From Software.
The truth is that this business has more nuances. Since, unlike the video game industry, Kadokawa owns multiple manga intellectual properties and is also the owner of Nico Nico, one of the most popular on-demand video services in Japan. Additionally, Kadokawa acquired anime studio Doga Kobo in July. Kadokawa’s anime studios now include Doga Kobo ENGI, Studio KADAN, Raging Bull, and the newly formed BELLNOX FILMS, as well as affiliated companies Kinema Citrus and Studio Chizu.
“Good” monopolies (anime) and “bad” monopolies (video games)
These are the companies in the industry anime which Sony currently owns.
Just a few years ago it was common to see news about Sony’s (PlayStation) fight to avoid a monopoly in the video game industry. This is due to the purchase of Activision, Blizard, King by Microsoft. However, if the Kadokawa purchase were to be carried out, the power and control that Sony would have over the audio industry anime could make those who complained about the inclusion of Activision, Blizard, King to the Xbox studios blush. Since, currently, Aniplex is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ). The animation studios A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks are subsidiaries of Aniplex.
Sony’s Funimation Global Group completed its acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T on August 9, 2021 for $1.175 billion, after the company first announced the acquisition of Crucnhyroll in December 2020. Thanks to this purchase, Crunchyroll surpassed the 15 million paying subscribers to its on-demand anime service this year.
Fortunately, for Sony, the market in the West is so controlled by them that no one is going to complain about how dangerous it is for a single company to have so much control of a medium.
Fuente: Kadokawa official statement.
What are the possible advantages for PlayStation fans if Sony successfully integrates Kadokawa’s properties into its gaming ecosystem?
1. What do you think are the potential benefits of Sony’s acquisition of Kadokawa for the gaming industry and PlayStation fans?
2. How do the possible implications of Sony’s acquisition of Kadokawa differ from the previous acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft in the video game industry?
3. Can you explain the current status of the talks between Kadokawa and Sony, and what factors are likely influencing their decision-making process?
4. Is it necessary for Sony to have such a significant presence in both the gaming and anime industries, and how might this affect the competition between them?
5. Do you think Sony’s ownership of multiple anime studios and services poses a risk to the diversity and innovation in the anime industry?
6. As a professional in the gaming industry, how do you evaluate the potential impact of this acquisition on Sony and its competitors?
