LogInWhile FromSoftware fans are worried about the future of their favorite IPs, the staff is reportedly "thrilled" about the acquisition.
FromSoftware
Last month, we reported that Sony was in discussions to acquire Kadokawa, a conglomerate with interests across multiple media industries, including ownership of FromSoftware, the studio behind Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and Spike Chunsoft, responsible for multiple anime titles, and more. Following this, Kadokawa confirmed that while discussions had occurred, no final decision had been made yet.
As discussions continue, many FromSoftware fans have voiced concerns that if Sony acquires Kadokawa, it could ruin everything they love about their favorite games. However, inside the company, the mood seems quite different.
A recent report from Japanese outlet Bunshun states that a large portion of Kadokawa's staff is unhappy with the company's current situation and sees the potential buyout as a positive change. What's more, according to a veteran employee, as translated by Automaton, the response within the company is described as one of excitement:
"The people around me are thrilled at the prospect of an acquisition by Sony. That's because there's a certain number of employees who are dissatisfied with the Natsuno administration, which didn't even bother to hold a press conference after peoples' personal information was leaked in the cyberattack. They expect that if Sony were to acquire the company, they would get rid of the president first."
FromSoftware
FromSoftware
The "Natsuno administration" refers to Kadokawa's President and CEO, Takeshi Natsuno. Earlier this year, hackers called BlackSuit targeted Kadokawa, including its NicoNico platform, and claimed to steal 1.5 terabytes of data, including the personal information of users and employees. Meanwhile, former chairman Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, a member of the company's founding family, was "surprised, but seemed positive" about the acquisition, according to an insider interviewed by Bunshun.
As seen, opinions on the potential deal are divided. In the same article, economic analyst Takahiro Suzuki told Bunshun that while Sony's entertainment sector could greatly benefit from acquiring Kadokawa's IPs, the latter would have little to gain from the deal:
"Kadokawa will lose its independence, and management will become stricter. If they want to keep developing their business as freely as they have until now, [the acquisition] would be a bad choice. They'd have to be prepared for publications that don't lead to IP creation being put under scrutiny."
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