Sony became KADOKAWA Corporation’s largest shareholder after a share allotment completed in January 2025. KADOKAWA is FromSoftware’s parent company, but Sony’s investment in KADOKAWA is not an acquisition of FromSoftware. The distinction matters: KADOKAWA’s shareholder page lists Sony Group at 11.01% as of March 2026, while FromSoftware’s latest cited direct ownership disclosure is from 2022.
What did Sony buy, and when?
On December 19, 2024, Sony and KADOKAWA announced a strategic capital and business alliance. The planned investment was a third-party allotment of 12,054,100 new KADOKAWA shares for approximately ¥50 billion. The companies said that, including shares Sony had acquired in February 2021, the transaction would make Sony KADOKAWA’s largest shareholder with approximately 10% of its shares. The allotment was completed on January 7, 2025. Sony and KADOKAWA’s announcement
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $73.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5 | $43.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5) | $40.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Elden Ring - PlayStation 5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The approximately 10% figure described the announced transaction. KADOKAWA’s later major shareholder information lists Sony Group Corporation at 11.01% as of March 2026. These figures refer to different reporting dates; the later listing is not the January 2025 transaction estimate.
How the ownership levels differ
There are two separate holdings to distinguish: Sony Group’s stake in KADOKAWA and Sony Interactive Entertainment’s direct stake in FromSoftware. KADOKAWA is FromSoftware’s parent, but a shareholding in the parent is not the same as direct ownership of the studio.
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#1 Best Overall
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
| Company and ownership level | Reported shareholder | Stake and date |
|---|---|---|
| KADOKAWA Corporation | Sony Group Corporation | 11.01%, as of March 2026; KADOKAWA shareholder information |
| FromSoftware, Inc. | KADOKAWA Corporation | 69.66%, in FromSoftware’s August 31, 2022 post-issuance disclosure |
| FromSoftware, Inc. | Sixjoy Hong Kong Limited, a Tencent subsidiary | 16.25%, in FromSoftware’s August 31, 2022 post-issuance disclosure |
| FromSoftware, Inc. | Sony Interactive Entertainment | 14.09%, in FromSoftware’s August 31, 2022 post-issuance disclosure |
FromSoftware’s August 31, 2022 share issuance announcement identifies KADOKAWA as its majority shareholder and Sony Interactive Entertainment as a minority shareholder. Those percentages are a dated disclosure, not a verified current share register. The cited company information does not establish a newer direct ownership breakdown for FromSoftware.
What the alliance says about future collaboration
Sony and KADOKAWA said they intended to strengthen cooperation to maximize the global value of their intellectual property. The examples they gave were potential joint investments in content, discovering creators, and promoting media mixes of their intellectual property. These are stated aims, not confirmation that particular projects have been completed.
Rank #3
- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
The announcement does not promise a specific FromSoftware acquisition, exclusive game, or release. Sony’s status as KADOKAWA’s largest shareholder therefore should not be read as proof that a FromSoftware game will become exclusive to PlayStation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this means for players and investors
For players, the confirmed development is a minority investment in FromSoftware’s parent and an announced intention to collaborate more broadly on intellectual property. It does not, by itself, change the disclosed ownership structure of FromSoftware or establish any change to game platforms.
For investors, the key distinction is between a shareholder position and control through an acquisition. The companies described the January 2025 transaction as a strategic investment and alliance, not a purchase of all KADOKAWA shares. The ownership figures above should also be read with their dates and corporate entities attached: KADOKAWA’s March 2026 figure and FromSoftware’s August 2022 figures are not interchangeable.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
- Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, and foreboding castles
- Create your character in FromSoftware’s refi ned action-RPG and defi ne your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world
- Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid - many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
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