Sony’s Potential Acquisition of FromSoft’s Parent Company Raises Intriguing and Concerning Questions

Reports have started circulating that Sony might be in talks to buy Kadokawa Corporation, the parent company of the renowned game developer FromSoftware. While this might sound exciting at first, it’s raising some eyebrows among fans of manga.

News broke earlier today about Sony’s supposed “ongoing” discussions with Kadokawa regarding acquiring the parent company of FromSoftware. Just at a glance, seeing big companies like Sony getting their hands on another is often met with worry, especially given past experiences where consolidation in the gaming world led to issues. Companies like Embracer Group have been known to snap up loads of studios only to shutter them down later. That aside, there’s another layer to this potential acquisition that’s causing concern: the world of anime and manga.

Kadokawa Group isn’t just about gaming; it also encompasses a massive network of manga and light novel publishers. Among their publishing arms is Kadokawa Shoten, known for releasing popular works like “The Summer Hikaru Died,” “Nichijou,” and even the manga version of “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”

Furthermore, the group’s portfolio includes Doga Kobo, famous recently for the hit “Oshi no Ko,” and they’ve also partnered with the western publishing house Yen Press, among others. The worry here is that Sony already owns Aniplex, a giant in the Japanese entertainment industry responsible for creating major series such as “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Madoka Magica,” “Sword Art Online,” “Demon Slayer,” and “Gurren Lagann.” Not to mention, Sony also controls Crunchyroll after its merger with Funimation a few years back.

That particular merger sparked plenty of discussion, especially when Funimation’s streaming service had a hiccup, resulting in the loss of many users’ digital libraries. It’s needless to say, this didn’t sit well with its subscribers. The merger itself already placed Sony in a dominant position over the anime and manga scene. Throwing Kadokawa into the mix doesn’t help sway fears of Sony monopolizing the industry. Monopoly’s a term that should send shivers down spines for a reason, and it’s not just a family board game.

Whether this acquisition will go through remains uncertain, but the rumor mill suggests a deal could be finalized “in the coming weeks.” If everything proceeds, Sony may indeed have a substantial grip on the manga and anime landscape. And if we’re honest, they most likely will.