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Sony Kadokawa Acquisition Interest

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NEWS Anime Corner News @animecornernews OFFICIAL: A strategic capital and business alliance will see Sony acquire a ~10% stake in Kadokawa for ~50 billion yen, making them the company's largest shareholder as they aim "to maximize both companies' IP value globally." SONY KADOKAWA Sony Officially to Become Kadokawa's Largest Shareholder After 50 Billion Yen Dea... From animecorner.me 4:49 AM • Dec 19, 2024 32.7K Views
rh3ph @rh3ph It's killing me how every English language report on this I've seen has reduced Kadokawa (one of the largest media conglomerates in Japan) to "the guys that own the Elden Ring studio" Genki*+ @Genki_JPN - Dec 11 Sony have confirmed their intent to buy FromSoftware parent company, Kadokawa! "It's true that we have made an initial statement of intent. We would appreciate it if we could refrain from further comment."... Show more SONY KADOKAWA 8:21 PM - Dec 11, 2024 - 261.4K Views 1,272 Reposts 26 Quotes 8,519 Likes 430 Bookmarks 430
SONY IN TALKS TO BUY FROMSOFTWARE'S PARENT COMPANY, REPORT CLAIMS Our list of allies grows thin
Chibi Reviews @ChibiReviews People that are fine with Sony acquiring Kadokawa, legit have no idea how dangerous this is. The monopoly they will own will be unbreakable unless governments step in. 1:19 AM Nov 20, 2024 101.2K Views DACK DAN
SONY FROM SOFTWARE PUT IT BACK, THIEF! ELDEN RING SHADOWERDTREE
@scadutree GET A JOB STAY AWAY FROM HER IGN @IGN Nov 19 Sony is reportedly in talks to buy Kadokawa, the parent company of Elden Ring developer FromSoftware. bit.ly/3VOKUwr 11:25 PM • Nov 19, 2024 74.2K Views
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Overview

Sony Kadokawa Acquisition Interest refers to the Japanese corporation Sony expressing interest in the acquisition of the media conglomerate Kadokawa, an umbrella company for multiple Japanese publishing companies, anime studios and gaming studios, most notably Dark Souls and Elden Ring developer FromSoftware. The news, first reported in November 2024, sparked a viral debate on social media as users expressed concerns over the monopolization of the anime market in Japan and the future of FromSoftware and its games. In mid-December 2024, Sony then increased its stake in KADOKAWA to 10 percent, making it the company's largest shareholder.

Background

On November 19th, 2024, Reuters[1] reported that the Japanese corporation Sony was in talks of acquiring the media conglomerate Kadokawa, an umbrella corporation for multiple Japanese publishing companies and distribution networks, anime studios and gaming studios, including Dark Souls and Elden Ring developer and publisher FromSoftware. On that day, multiple news accounts on X reported the news, including posts by @gematsu,[2] @IGN[3] and @AniNewsAndFacts[4] (post by @IGN shown below).

AN Anime News And Facts &F @AniNewsAndFacts SONY Is in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa. Deal could be closed in coming weeks. SONY KADOKAWA 1:50 PM ⚫ Nov 19, 2024 515.2K Views

The potential acquisition could effectively provide Sony, which already owns the Japanese entertainment company Aniplex and the anime streaming service Crunchyroll, with increased control over the production and distribution of light novels and anime globally.[5]

Developments

Press Release

On November 20th, 2024, Kadokawa Corporation issued a press release[6] in which it confirmed that Sony expressed intent to acquire the corporation, but that no decision was made at that time (shown below).

For Immediate Release November 20, 2024 Company name: KADOKAWA CORPORATION Takeshi Natsuno, Chief Executive Officer Representative: Contact: (Stock Code: 9468, TSE Prime Market) Tomoyuki Oue, Head, Investor and Public Relations Division (TEL: 03-5216-8212) Notice Regarding Media Articles There are some articles on the acquisition of KADOKAWA Corporation (hereinafter "the Company") by Sony Group Inc. However, this information is not announced by the Company. The Company has received an initial letter of intent to acquire the Company's shares, but no decision has been made at this time. If there are any facts that should be announced in the future, we will make an announcement in a timely and appropriate manner. Notice: End of document This document is a translation of the original Japanese document and is only for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy between this translated document and the original Japanese document, the latter shall prevail.

Sony Increases Kadokawa Share

On December 19th, 2024, Sony[9] announced that the company acquired 12 million shares of KADOKAWA worth approximately 50 billion yen, increasing its stake in the company to 10 percent. This made Sony the largest shareholder of KADOKAWA, above 8.87 percent owned by Kakao Investment and 6.86 percent owned by Chinese conglomerate Tencent.[10]

Online Reactions

The news became a subject of viral discussions on social media as users expressed concerns with the potential acquisition, citing possible monopolization of the anime industry and possible impact on FromSoftware and its games.

On November 19th, 2024, YouTuber ChibiReviews made a post on X[7] in which they listed their concerns with the potential acquisition, with their post (shown below) garnering over 2,000 reposts and 16,000 likes in one day.

Chibi Reviews @ChibiReviews Sony is trying to buy Kadokawa. To put this into perspective, they currently own Funimation, Crunchyroll and Rightstuf. For the last half decade they have been buying up the Anime and Manga market to gain a monopoly. If they aquire Kadokawa. They won't just own major Light Novel distribution, but also major anime studios. On top of that they'll own a majority of From Software aka Dark Souls gaming studio. ... KADOKAWA SONY . 4:27 PM • Nov 19, 2024 · 487.5K Views

The news also spawned various memes and reactions in which users expressed their desire for the potential deal to fall through. For example, on November 19th, X[8] user @skumnut posted a caption meme that received over 470 reposts and 6,400 likes in one day.

skum @skumnut Please lord Gwyn quadruple all of my pain and give it to the CEO of Sony they can't get away with this = || GIF

More memes about the potential acquisition were posted on X and Reddit, particularly in gaming and anime-related subreddits.

Various Examples

SONY IN TALKS TO BUY FROMSOFTWARE'S PARENT COMPANY, REPORT CLAIMS Our list of allies grows thin
Subscribe B AN Anime News And Facts &F @AniNewsAndFacts SONY Is in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa. Deal could be closed in coming weeks. SONY KADOKAWA
SONY FROM SOFTWARE PUT IT BACK, THIEF! ELDEN RING SHADOWERDTREE
Chibi Reviews @ChibiReviews People that are fine with Sony acquiring Kadokawa, legit have no idea how dangerous this is. The monopoly they will own will be unbreakable unless governments step in. 1:19 AM Nov 20, 2024 101.2K Views DACK DAN
Gangster Cooler (Final Form) @Friezas Brother IF SONY BUYS FROMSOFTWARE IT WILL BE END OF THE GAMING INDUSTRY NOOOOOOOO00 ...
Fans Sony Fromsoft Corporate greed

Search Interest

External References

[1] Reuters – Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring'

[2] X – @gematsu

[3] X – @IGN

[4] X – @AniNewsAndFacts

[5] Animecorner – Sony in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa, Reuters Reports

[6] Gematsu – Reuters: Sony Group Corporation in talks to acquire Kadokawa Corporation [Update 2]

[7] X – @ChibiReviews

[8] X – @skumnut

[9] Sony – KADOKAWA and Sony Agree to Form Strategic Capital and Business Alliance

[10] Eurogamer – Sony is now FromSoftware owner Kadokawa's largest shareholder

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Sony Kadokawa Acquisition Interest meme example.

Sony Kadokawa Acquisition Interest

Updated Dec 19, 2024 at 02:20PM EST by Zach.

Added Nov 20, 2024 at 11:06AM EST by Philipp.

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Overview

Sony Kadokawa Acquisition Interest refers to the Japanese corporation Sony expressing interest in the acquisition of the media conglomerate Kadokawa, an umbrella company for multiple Japanese publishing companies, anime studios and gaming studios, most notably Dark Souls and Elden Ring developer FromSoftware. The news, first reported in November 2024, sparked a viral debate on social media as users expressed concerns over the monopolization of the anime market in Japan and the future of FromSoftware and its games. In mid-December 2024, Sony then increased its stake in KADOKAWA to 10 percent, making it the company's largest shareholder.

Background

On November 19th, 2024, Reuters[1] reported that the Japanese corporation Sony was in talks of acquiring the media conglomerate Kadokawa, an umbrella corporation for multiple Japanese publishing companies and distribution networks, anime studios and gaming studios, including Dark Souls and Elden Ring developer and publisher FromSoftware. On that day, multiple news accounts on X reported the news, including posts by @gematsu,[2] @IGN[3] and @AniNewsAndFacts[4] (post by @IGN shown below).


AN Anime News And Facts &F @AniNewsAndFacts SONY Is in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa. Deal could be closed in coming weeks. SONY KADOKAWA 1:50 PM ⚫ Nov 19, 2024 515.2K Views

The potential acquisition could effectively provide Sony, which already owns the Japanese entertainment company Aniplex and the anime streaming service Crunchyroll, with increased control over the production and distribution of light novels and anime globally.[5]

Developments

Press Release

On November 20th, 2024, Kadokawa Corporation issued a press release[6] in which it confirmed that Sony expressed intent to acquire the corporation, but that no decision was made at that time (shown below).


For Immediate Release November 20, 2024 Company name: KADOKAWA CORPORATION Takeshi Natsuno, Chief Executive Officer Representative: Contact: (Stock Code: 9468, TSE Prime Market) Tomoyuki Oue, Head, Investor and Public Relations Division (TEL: 03-5216-8212) Notice Regarding Media Articles There are some articles on the acquisition of KADOKAWA Corporation (hereinafter "the Company") by Sony Group Inc. However, this information is not announced by the Company. The Company has received an initial letter of intent to acquire the Company's shares, but no decision has been made at this time. If there are any facts that should be announced in the future, we will make an announcement in a timely and appropriate manner. Notice: End of document This document is a translation of the original Japanese document and is only for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy between this translated document and the original Japanese document, the latter shall prevail.

Sony Increases Kadokawa Share

On December 19th, 2024, Sony[9] announced that the company acquired 12 million shares of KADOKAWA worth approximately 50 billion yen, increasing its stake in the company to 10 percent. This made Sony the largest shareholder of KADOKAWA, above 8.87 percent owned by Kakao Investment and 6.86 percent owned by Chinese conglomerate Tencent.[10]

Online Reactions

The news became a subject of viral discussions on social media as users expressed concerns with the potential acquisition, citing possible monopolization of the anime industry and possible impact on FromSoftware and its games.

On November 19th, 2024, YouTuber ChibiReviews made a post on X[7] in which they listed their concerns with the potential acquisition, with their post (shown below) garnering over 2,000 reposts and 16,000 likes in one day.


Chibi Reviews @ChibiReviews Sony is trying to buy Kadokawa. To put this into perspective, they currently own Funimation, Crunchyroll and Rightstuf. For the last half decade they have been buying up the Anime and Manga market to gain a monopoly. If they aquire Kadokawa. They won't just own major Light Novel distribution, but also major anime studios. On top of that they'll own a majority of From Software aka Dark Souls gaming studio. ... KADOKAWA SONY . 4:27 PM • Nov 19, 2024 · 487.5K Views

The news also spawned various memes and reactions in which users expressed their desire for the potential deal to fall through. For example, on November 19th, X[8] user @skumnut posted a caption meme that received over 470 reposts and 6,400 likes in one day.


skum @skumnut Please lord Gwyn quadruple all of my pain and give it to the CEO of Sony they can't get away with this = || GIF

More memes about the potential acquisition were posted on X and Reddit, particularly in gaming and anime-related subreddits.

Various Examples


SONY IN TALKS TO BUY FROMSOFTWARE'S PARENT COMPANY, REPORT CLAIMS Our list of allies grows thin Subscribe B AN Anime News And Facts &F @AniNewsAndFacts SONY Is in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa. Deal could be closed in coming weeks. SONY KADOKAWA SONY FROM SOFTWARE PUT IT BACK, THIEF! ELDEN RING SHADOWERDTREE
Chibi Reviews @ChibiReviews People that are fine with Sony acquiring Kadokawa, legit have no idea how dangerous this is. The monopoly they will own will be unbreakable unless governments step in. 1:19 AM Nov 20, 2024 101.2K Views DACK DAN Gangster Cooler (Final Form) @Friezas Brother IF SONY BUYS FROMSOFTWARE IT WILL BE END OF THE GAMING INDUSTRY NOOOOOOOO00 ... Fans Sony Fromsoft Corporate greed

Search Interest

External References

[1] Reuters – Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring'

[2] X – @gematsu

[3] X – @IGN

[4] X – @AniNewsAndFacts

[5] Animecorner – Sony in Talks to Acquire Kadokawa, Reuters Reports

[6] Gematsu – Reuters: Sony Group Corporation in talks to acquire Kadokawa Corporation [Update 2]

[7] X – @ChibiReviews

[8] X – @skumnut

[9] Sony – KADOKAWA and Sony Agree to Form Strategic Capital and Business Alliance

[10] Eurogamer – Sony is now FromSoftware owner Kadokawa's largest shareholder

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Imabigfish
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Imabigfish

Huh, this and the recent payment processing issues in Japan we might have seen the high water mark for anime. With Sony and other investment firms jumping into this market, what made anime special, will (or has) dissapear.

I do miss the days of its obsurity. When simply seeing an "Anime' " was something to post about on the early net and others would post asking questions and recommend other shows. Even sharing VHS tapes way back in the day (I have one still in my collection). While that group is still around, Ive noticed the newer generation of watchers tend only to watch one show and become fans only devoted to the fandom of that show. And that's the crowd these investors want. Big money for little risk.
That's my two cents at least.

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UnKewln00b
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UnKewln00b

This honestly gives the vibes of Disney buying 20th Century Fox just so they can get their hands on the Xmen and the Fantastic Four. Yeah, they're utilizing the other Fox IP's recently with new Alien and Predator films among others, but they bought them for Xmen and Fantastic Four let's be 100% honest here.

Yeah Sony would get a real good deal with all the other stuff that comes with Kadokawa, but we all know Sony is REALLY just looking at the next big Soulsborne game as an exclusive for the PS6 and everything else is just extra goodies. I hate how the gaming world has just turned into Microsoft and Sony trying to buy up more companies in an attempt to strong arm the industry.

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