• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Kadokawa confirms Sony sent an acquisition letter

I'm a bit confused as to why people seem to think this is somehow going to ruin FromSoftware, when almost every first party game Sony roll out is great

These same delusional people think Sony first party is somehow awful

Or that they aren’t successful working with traditional partners in the SP space

Just pure sour grapes.

Anytime Sony works with a traditional SP third party dev, their games seem to only get better thanks to all the support.

Its insane to think stellar blade is shift up’s first AA type release and ended to that good and polished
 

Heimdall_Xtreme

Hermen Hulst Fanclub's #1 Member
El nivel de ignorancia es asombroso...

Los problemas de Bungie se debieron a que Pete Parsons y su junta directiva fastidiaron a los empleados durante años y arruinaron el dinero, comprando un montón de autos lujosos y todo eso. Los empleados de Bungie querían que SIE asumiera el control y expulsara a Parson y a la junta directiva. Entonces, los problemas con el contenido descargable de Destiny, el desarrollo de Marathon, los despidos... todo se debió a Parsons y su junta directiva.

Concord es lo único que se le puede achacar a SIE; heredaron un juego poco atractivo, pero fue Hulst quien apostó fuerte por él. Incluso si había gente en SIE que no quería el estudio ni el juego, probablemente se les ignoró. Pero el fracaso de Concord ha sido tan monumental que será el momento de humildad para Hulst. Totoki y Yoshida no van a dejar que interfieran con From Software si ya ha dejado que Polyphony Digital y Team Asobi hagan lo suyo, y dudo mucho que Hulst quiera tener otro Concord bajo su supervisión.

Es por eso que probablemente estén haciendo cambios en Fairgame$ y reduciendo algunos de los otros GAAS; saben que la apuesta arriesgada no fue una gran apuesta.

Pero nada de eso cambia el hecho de que Kadokawa está en el mercado para vender. Quieren que alguien los compre, así que, si estás tan en contra de que sea Sony, ¿qué empresa habrías elegido y por qué?



Polyphony Digital parece estar haciéndolo muy bien.

El equipo Asobi acaba de lanzar uno de los juegos mejor valorados del año (¿quizás el mejor?). Parece que le está yendo muy bien.

No parece que Hulst esté arruinando ninguno de los dos, y ambos son estudios japoneses. Entonces, ¿por qué de repente sería diferente con From Software?

Oh, no lo sería. Ustedes solo están sembrando el miedo con miedo, incertidumbre y duda. Típico.
pyra-xenoblade.gif


Sorry brother :messenger_crying::messenger_loudly_crying:
 
Last edited:
I can see it now: Sony requires all Souls games going forward to have difficulty settings and golden strings that lead to your next objective. Glorious.
 

LRKD

Member
only the dumbest sony fanboys could be excited about this. It's not like bungie where they'd been doing poorly for a while, and there is a possibility of improvement w acquisition. The only possibility here is negatively effecting fromsoft. Not to even mention the ramifications this has on kadokawas other holdings being aquired by sony, absolutely awful.
 

Sentenza

Member
Am I wrong?
And what part of it isn't supposed to be in topic, anyway?


For the record IF the acquisition happens I'm fully expecting Sony to keep releasing From Software games on PC as well.
But this doesn't change that it will more likely than not be a change for the worse for the studio and the entire parent company.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Monopolization is always great for the industry.
I guess it's only positive outcomes and good guy reminders when MS does it.


Let's not forget the entire Sierra library (which Activision currently owns) as well. Hopefully those retro PC games find a new home on Gamepass.

Good luck.
 

GHG

Member
For the record IF the acquisition happens I'm fully expecting Sony to keep releasing From Software games on PC as well.
But this doesn't change that it will more likely than not be a change for the worse for the studio and the entire parent company.

Falls on deaf ears as far as I'm concerned. It's too late.

Where was everyone with these comments when Microsoft were busy buying up half the industry a couple of years ago?
 

Mephisto40

Member
only the dumbest sony fanboys could be excited about this. It's not like bungie where they'd been doing poorly for a while, and there is a possibility of improvement w acquisition. The only possibility here is negatively effecting fromsoft. Not to even mention the ramifications this has on kadokawas other holdings being aquired by sony, absolutely awful.
Care to explain how this is going to negatively effect FromSoftware, and provide some examples as to other things they have "ruined"?

Really, the only thing I can think of this effecting is future games not arriving on PC day 1, and skipping Xbox entirely
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
Where was everyone with these comments when Microsoft were busy buying up half the industry a couple of years ago?
They were still there? it was one of the most hotly debated topics back in 2023. You think everybody was in agreement with the acquisition then?
 
only the dumbest sony fanboys could be excited about this. It's not like bungie where they'd been doing poorly for a while, and there is a possibility of improvement w acquisition. The only possibility here is negatively effecting fromsoft. Not to even mention the ramifications this has on kadokawas other holdings being aquired by sony, absolutely awful.
Apparently the company is looking to sell so either Sony get them or someone else does. Nintendo would be even worse IMO after that you have outside companies which is unlikely to happen considering Japan will most likely want a Japanese company to take over.
 

GHG

Member
They were still there? it was one of the most hotly debated topics back in 2023. You think everybody was in agreement with the acquisition then?

I was there. I also remember very well who else was there in disagreement.

He wasn't.

As such, he doesn't get to complain now. If you're going to feign neutrality by hiding behind "PC" then at least be consistent with your bullshit.
 
Last edited:

Sentenza

Member
Falls on deaf ears as far as I'm concerned. It's too late.

Where was everyone with these comments when Microsoft were busy buying up half the industry a couple of years ago?
Here saying the same exact thing?
You wankers just have selective memory because you think everything is a tribe war.

I'ts also fucking delusional that you think that someone who NEVER had a single Xbox in his life was cheering for Microsoft.
 
Last edited:

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Falls on deaf ears as far as I'm concerned. It's too late.

Where was everyone with these comments when Microsoft were busy buying up half the industry a couple of years ago?
Satya opened the floodgates with this soundbite. Fanatical true believers should be blaming him, only problem, they haven't blamed their favorite brand for any of their BS, thus we are in the situations that we are now in with the gaming industry.

 

GHG

Member
Here saying the same exact thing?
You wankers just have selective memory because you think everything is a tribe war.

I'ts also fucking delusional that you think that someone who NEVER had a single Xbox in his life was cheering for Microsoft.

No? You still managed to be pretty vocal:

...But I have a PC?

I mean, I get why Playstation fans entered in a state of perpetual butthurt about these acquisitions, but for fuck's sake, can we at least stop pretending that "THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WILL BE HARMED AND THIS MARKET WILL COLLAPSE IF I DON'T GET EVERYTHING ON MY CONSOLE OF CHOICE?"

Do yourself a favour and save the bullshit.

Let's see how you behave if you don't get From Software's next titles on your platform of choice.
 
Last edited:
It's quite funny to see the changes of opinion on Twitter and forums, people who have spent 3-4 years defending publisher purchases now think it's terrible that Sony can buy FROM, hypocrites.

From and Sony created the "souls" genre with Demons soul and one of the best games from the studio, Bloodborne, so there shouldn't be any concern on that front.
 

Represent.

Banned
FromSoft being bought by Sony would actually give them access to competent tech - Maybe then they will stop producing early PS4 gen quality visuals, halfway through the current gen. I'm all for the purchase in this case.

Elden Ring 2 on Decima engine. Make it exclusive so you dont have to worry about optimizing for a million platofroms and water down your product for the likes of Series S. Get it done.
 
Last edited:

Ebrietas

Member
Satya opened the floodgates with this soundbite. Fanatical true believers should be blaming him, only problem, they haven't blamed their favorite brand for any of their BS, thus we are in the situations that we are now in with the gaming industry.


Xbros should be ecstatic. From Soft games skipping Xbox will force MS to up their game and create better first party software. This is the competition they have been asking for.
 
Last edited:

BennyBlanco

aka IMurRIVAL69
None of this stuff is heading to Xbox if this deal goes through.

The biggest question is does Day 1 PC still happen or do you end up with a year or so delay.

I think it would be fair to have FromSoftware focus on a PS5 only release with support from Bluepoint and then have Nixxes handle the PC ports.

I think this could result in

  • More content from FromSoftware
  • Increased localization efforts
  • More technically proficient games
  • Improved quality PC ports

Elden Ring PC sales were crazy. Sony is running a business and put their own games on PC because corporate wants them to squeeze every nickel out of their games. You’re tripping if you think they will take a huge hit on their potential revenue from an acquisition like this for muh fanboy list wars.
 

PandaOk

Banned
I hope this doesn't mean that FROM games will hit PC 5 years after their PS release.
I’d wager this would be a Sony acquisition not a PlayStation one, and even PlayStation is all about revenue/ROI for larger acquisitions. I don’t think they’d change the release Platforms for Fromsoft. Could see some exclusives here and there but it would be in the vein as Demons Souls/Bloodborn.
 
Last edited:
pyra-xenoblade.gif


Sorry brother :messenger_crying::messenger_loudly_crying:

Eh, it was worth it for the translation. I LEARNED SPANISH!!!

Something tells me Sony will leave From IPs as they are now.

Genuinely don't know why people are thinking this means From Software stop releasing games on Steam or PC; SIE are just gonna continue things as they are, and that's probably what Miyazaki & From Software would want, too.

But, I can see a team within From Software bringing back say King's Field or making a new smaller IP, and it's a console exclusive to let them focus on the game instead of supporting a bunch of different platforms.

Or maybe they have interest in doing something with a legacy IP like Legend of Dragoon or Popolocrois, and work with members of different SIE teams on it while the main From Software teams focus on Elden Ring and the such.

The market isn't making any decisions here, Sony just came up to one of the biggest names in gaming/Anime and said "can we buy you?"

And if you're gonna say "well they wanted to sell anyways" bethesda also wanted to sell and look at the deep shit they're in now....

Those situations aren't comparable. Zenimax was struggling on a game development front and in generating sufficient revenue and profit. When they were looking to sell, they turned to Microsoft in part because they have a long history with them, and Microsoft were interested in buying. Post-acquisition the faults with Zenimax are down to them being under the management of Phil Spencer, Matt Booty, Sarah Bond and others at Microsoft Gaming, who already had a history of poor management outside of select IP like Forza Horizon and select games like Ori, Cuphead etc. One of the reasons Minecraft has endured is because Mojang operate on their own, no influence from people like Matt Booty on them.

Kadokawa have been a healthy company for a long while, and in gaming especially so particularly the last few years. They have strong management, and let From Software basically do their own thing under Miyazaki. They're looking to stave off a hostile takeover from Kakao, so they're looking to companies like Sony, who they have a long history with, to acquire them. Sony generally have been good with the anime/manga stuff (the censorship being complained about is by the subbing & dubbing groups hired to do that work for the anime, not Sony), and while it's been a bit sloppy with overall games management past couple years (certain big studios like ND are MIA still, the complete failure that was Concord), they've still been producing hits like Returnal, Rift Apart, HFW, Helldivers 2 and Astro Bot.

Even with some of the mistakes I think they've had on the games front the past year (and what I still feel is a flawed multiplatform strategy WRT PC, but I've already talked about what I felt would be the best strategy there sans their own launcher), their gaming management for the brand and business sensibilities are still leagues ahead of Microsoft's. It's a bit ridiculous to assume they'd mess up From Software as if they're Microsoft, when even Microsoft managed to not screw up Minecraft.

It's like some folks think Sony are going to just run up into From Software and force things on them, instead of understanding they're so successful because they have a strategy that already works. And just force them to abandon that strategy because of...Concord? That's got nothing to do with From Software or Kadokawa.

First, you need to remember that Sony already owns part of the 30 percent you're referring to.

This would bring Sony to 83.75% ownership.

So it's a near certainty that they would squeeze Tencent out.

Fair enough tbh.
 
Last edited:

MayauMiao

Member
If that's what you believe you should read/watch things outside of mainstream Shonen. Your mind would apparently melt lol.

Oh I've seen beyond Shonen but unlike western media, they don't try to force you to like their politics and be preachy.
 

MagnesD3

Member
That's not how game development works at all...
You guys need to understand that Sony isn't Insomniac either. They're a publisher first and foremost, why would they ""push DEI"", if they supposedly do, only through their internal studios?

Heck yeah.
wBW7ir0.jpeg


Cool, the "gaming used to be niche because girls in my class didn't have a SNES" crowd is now here.
Lol has nothing to do with gender, only common human stupidity. Whether people wanna be honest about it or not the common people of humanity dont have much creative/intellectual juice going on, the people who knew how good gaming was early on were a nontypical type of human being, ahead of the curb, it took others a long time to realize something others had years ago.

What im saying is taste isnt equal in value across all people and we have been in the mainstream gaming era for awhile now, its because of the common peoples lack of care/conviction to fight back against corporations with thier wallet at negative trends that has shaped our unfortunate toxic gaming landscape. That is why I wish gaming was still relatively niche.
 
Last edited:

//DEVIL//

Member
The way the letter is written, it almost sounds like its a done deal. just waiting for papers and formalities.

if it does go through, I am honestly super excited. Sony needs to fight back with all these MS big titles. They are not losing the market now to Xbox or not any time this generation. but its good to have a strong portfolio of IPs stream especially with how long each game takes.

and if there is one dev that needs to focus on one console, its them. these guys sucks when it comes to technical issues of their games. at least this will give them the time to properly make the game on one console instead of 3. ( and i still dont have hope. when you make a PS4 looking game run like shit on a 4090,,,, yeah i dont trust u lol )
 

ToadMan

Member
It's quite funny to see the changes of opinion on Twitter and forums, people who have spent 3-4 years defending publisher purchases now think it's terrible that Sony can buy FROM, hypocrites.

It even goes beyond that - besides not wanting MS to come into possession of some well known mutliplat studios through acqusitions, the other problem was that it would open the floodgates on exactly this kind of merger or acquisition going forwards.

Sony had to respond one way or the other - even if it's this South Korean company they're warding off, after MS got away with Zeni and then ABK, the message from agencies was that there is no limit on acquisitions relating to gaming no matter how large they are.

As it happens, Sony and Kadokawa seem to be such a good fit for more than just gaming reasons, I can't see why they wouldn't go ahead regardless now, but I'd prefer to have seen Zeni and ABK stay independent. Had MS been stopped previously, that would have filtered through to this transaction as well. As it is, those acquisitions enable this, and perhaps even precipitated it.

And it won't end there - if Sony does end up getting control of Kadokawa now, that will just enable and perhaps force the next acquisition whether its Nintendo or Tencent or anyone else.

Of course, back during the ABK deal it was all about wanting "free" stuff on GP - yet the ABK back catalog remains in limbo so those cheering retards got nothing for their support apart from a GP price rise or two.
 

yogaflame

Member
Go for it Sony and Kadokawa. I hope the next Sony acquisition or at least partnership will be Sega, Konami and Squaresoft. That will consolidate the Japanese giants to be competitive against MS xbox giants acquisition Bethesda and Activision.
 
Last edited:

Sentenza

Member
Ahaha, you really never fail to deliver with those receipts.

B7goN2I.gif
These "receipts" are his brain fart.
Just because he chose to interpret past statements in a certain way it doesn't mean he has a point.
The reality is that Sony groupies on this forum somehow get away with being BOTH the most obnoxious and vocal fanboys around AND with constantly claiming to be victims of discrimination.
 
Top Bottom