GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

From Software Parent Company Has Received Buyout Offer From Sony

If the two companies can agree, it's thought a deal could be reached in a matter of weeks.

49 Comments

Sony has proposed a buyout offer that would see it become owner of Kadokawa Corporation--the parent company of Dark Souls and Elden Ring developer From Software.

The offer was confirmed by Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno on November 20, who added that no decision has been made at this time.

According to Reuters, a possible acquisition would see Sony own the rights to Elden Ring and future games from From Software, also known for Demon Souls (already owned by Sony) and Dark Souls (controlled by publisher Bandai Namco). Acquire, behind Tenchu, and Spike Chunsoft, behind Danganronpa, also sit under Kadokawa's umbrella and presumably would be part of any merger. Sony already owns a 2% stake in the company.

Kadokawa's portfolio doesn't just include gaming, though. The company also has a hand in anime and manga, behind franchises like Re:Zero and Delicious in Dungeon. In 2021, Sony acquired anime streaming service Crunchyroll for over $1 billion.

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Elden Ring is one of the biggest video games in the world, selling over 25 million copies before the launch of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The action-RPG was also GameSpot's Game of the Year for 2022.

In June, Shadow of the Erdtree launched to critical and commercial praise. The Elden Ring expansion is nominated for multiple The Game Awards 2024 categories, including Game of the Year.

Meanwhile, last month, Sony shuttered Concord developer Firewalk Studios after the shooter's failed launch. Earlier this year, Sony also cut roughly 900 gaming jobs and canceled PlayStation projects.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 49 comments about this story