[UPDATE 21st Nov 2024] Kadokawa Corporation has acknowledged recent reports about Sony Group Corporation’s potential interest in acquiring the company. In an official statement, Kadokawa confirmed that while Sony has expressed intentions to purchase the company, no final decision has been reached.

“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.”

The original article as follows:

Sony is reportedly in negotiations to acquire Kadokawa Corporation, the Japanese media conglomerate that owns FromSoftware, according to Reuters citing two sources familiar with the matter. If successful, the deal could be finalized in the coming weeks.

Kadokawa Corporation, which already counts Sony as a 2% stakeholder, saw its share price surge 23% to ¥3,745 following the news – marking an all-time high for the company. Prior to the Reuters report, Kadokawa’s market capitalization stood at approximately $2.7 billion.

The potential acquisition would bring several notable gaming studios under Sony’s umbrella, including FromSoftware, the acclaimed developer behind Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and the Dark Souls series. Elden Ring, a collaboration between game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and author George R.R. Martin, has sold 25 million units, with its recent expansion “Shadow of the Erdtree” moving 5 million copies in just three days after release.

The deal would also include Spike Chunsoft, known for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, and recently acquired studio Acquire, developers of Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler II.

Moreover, Kadokawa, founded as a publisher in 1945, has evolved into a diverse media company spanning books, manga, film production, and video games. The company recently faced challenges, including a significant cyberattack in June that reportedly compromised 1.5TB of company data. When contacted, Sony declined to comment on the report, while Kadokawa stated they couldn’t provide any comment on the matter.