The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Sony’s 2024 investment was in KADOKAWA, the parent company that owns most of FromSoftware—not a purchase of FromSoftware itself. Sony bought newly issued KADOKAWA shares for about ¥50 billion, bringing its KADOKAWA holding to about 10%. The companies outlined broad plans to explore collaboration, but did not announce a FromSoftware game deal, a change to any title’s platform plans, or a PlayStation exclusivity decision.
What Sony bought—and what it did not
On December 19, 2024, Sony Group Corporation and KADOKAWA Corporation announced a strategic capital and business alliance. The transaction gave Sony 12,054,100 newly issued KADOKAWA shares for approximately ¥50 billion. Including its previous holding, Sony expected to own about 10% of KADOKAWA and become its largest shareholder at that time. Sony said it did not plan to buy additional KADOKAWA shares after the transaction. 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 | $74.03 | 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 |
That was a minority investment in KADOKAWA, not a takeover of FromSoftware. The distinction matters: KADOKAWA is FromSoftware’s majority owner, but buying shares in its parent is not the same as buying the studio or announcing control over its game-by-game decisions.
How the ownership connects to FromSoftware
FromSoftware’s August 31, 2022 announcement reported that, following a share issuance, KADOKAWA held 69.66% of FromSoftware, Tencent subsidiary Sixjoy held 16.25%, and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) held 14.09%. SIE’s FromSoftware holding is separate from Sony Group’s later purchase of KADOKAWA shares. FromSoftware’s 2022 statement
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- 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.
In that 2022 statement, FromSoftware said the share issuance would not change its independence in game design and development, player communication, or platform selection. It also said the funding would support investment in in-house game development. This describes the context of the 2022 transaction; it is not a guarantee about decisions made after the 2024 Sony–KADOKAWA alliance.
What Sony and KADOKAWA said they may do together
The alliance announcement described areas for potential collaboration intended to increase the global reach and value of both companies’ intellectual property. The examples were broad, and framed as possibilities for discussion—not commitments to specific projects.
Rank #3
- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
- Joint investment in content and identifying creators.
- Live-action film and television adaptations of KADOKAWA properties.
- Co-produced anime and wider global anime distribution through Sony.
- Expanding the global publishing of KADOKAWA games.
- Developing talent in virtual production.
KADOKAWA CEO Takeshi Natsuno said the alliance could strengthen the company’s ability to create intellectual property and increase its options for adapting and distributing it worldwide. The announcement did not name a FromSoftware game as a collaboration project.
What the deal does—and does not—mean for gamers
The deal signals a closer strategic relationship between Sony and KADOKAWA, whose group includes FromSoftware. That creates room for future collaboration across content and distribution, but the announced plans do not establish that any particular FromSoftware game will be published by Sony or released only on PlayStation.
There was no announcement that Elden Ring or another named game would become a PlayStation exclusive, that existing platform plans would change, or that the deal guarantees more FromSoftware games. Those outcomes remain unknown; a minority ownership stake and broad collaboration plans are not evidence of a game-specific decision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sony is no longer KADOKAWA’s largest shareholder
The 2024 announcement described Sony as KADOKAWA’s largest shareholder after the transaction. That is not the latest reported ranking: GamesRadar reported that Oasis Management held 13.76% of KADOKAWA as of March 30, 2026, overtaking Sony. The report also relayed a translated KADOKAWA statement saying its administrative policies are not influenced by individual shareholders’ actions. The reported stake does not establish that Oasis controls KADOKAWA or predict its future decisions. GamesRadar’s report on the shareholder change
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
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
