Sony Invests $300 Million in Kadokawa, Expanding Game and Anime Portfolio
Sony, the Japanese tech giant, announced on Thursday that it has invested over $300 million for a 10% stake in Kadokawa, the media company behind the hit video game Elden Ring.
Kadokawa, known for its anime productions and manga publishing, revealed last month that Sony had shown interest in the company, causing a surge in its stock prices.
In a joint statement, the two firms confirmed a “strategic capital and business alliance agreement.” Under the deal, Sony will spend 50 billion yen (approximately $320 million) to acquire 12 million new Kadokawa shares, becoming the company’s largest shareholder. The transfer of shares is set to be completed by January 7.
This partnership aims to strengthen collaboration between the companies and enhance the global value of their intellectual properties (IP), according to the statement.
The deal adds to Sony’s growing portfolio in games and animation. In 2021, Sony purchased Crunchyroll, a popular anime streaming service, further solidifying its foothold in the anime market.
Kadokawa owns FromSoftware, the Tokyo-based studio that developed Elden Ring, a dark fantasy role-playing game created in collaboration with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.
Sony, which already held a stake in Kadokawa since 2021, has been riding high on strong gaming and entertainment sales. The company recently launched the PlayStation 5 Pro in November, though its high price tag of 799.99 euros ($847) has sparked mixed reactions from gamers.
This move signals Sony’s commitment to expanding its influence in the global gaming and anime industries.
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