Kadokawa Grouphas outlined its future licensing, development, and publishing strategy now thatSonyhas become its majority shareholder.
What This Means for Sony and Kadokawa
As of July 24, 2025, Sony holds a majority stake in Kadokawa Group, one of Japan’s most influential media conglomerates. This transaction does not constitute a full acquisition but includes a package of 12,054,100 shares.
The deal is valued at 50 billion yen, approximately 305 million dollars, giving Sony a significant share in Kadokawa.
The partnership opens up many possibilities. Sony and Kadokawa plan to release up to 9,000 new licenses by 2027, though unfortunately, this does not include a Bloodborne remaster or remake.
Kadokawa’s portfolio spans various entertainment mediums, including video games from FromSoftware and its other studios, anime films and series, comics, and merchandise, among others.
As noted by Twitter/X user Zuby_Tech, Kadokawa has detailed its collaboration with Sony in licensing development and publishing.
“We will accelerate the creation and distribution of intellectual property by strengthening collaboration with Sony Group Corporation and securing the Group’s funding,” states Kadokawa’s latest financial report.
Sony to Publish Games from Kadokawa Studios
Beyond this partnership, one of Sony’s primary objectives with this investment is to expand its publishing division through PlayStation.
In 2024, PlayStation had major hits like Stellar Blade, and soon, upcoming titles like Phantom Blade Zero—a Chinese action game aiming to replicate Black Myth: Wukong’s success—will follow.
Additionally, Lost Soul Aside resurfaced a few months ago, confirming a 2025 release. Sony is looking to ensure that future Kadokawa Group titles follow in these footsteps.
From the next soulslike game or a new IP from FromSoftware to a potential Octopath Traveler 3 or an anime-inspired game from Spike Chunsoft, many of these projects will be published under Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Or, more specifically, by PlayStation—the gaming division of Sony. However, this does not necessarily mean that all these games will be PlayStation exclusives.
Now under the leadership of CEO Hideaki Nishino, Sony hopes its Kadokawa investment yields better results than its Bungie acquisition. Despite acquiring the Halo creators, Bungie remains focused on Destiny 2 while developing Marathon.
The next major release from Kadokawa in the gaming industry isElden Ring: Nightreign, a multiplayer spin-off of the 2022 Game of the Year, set to launch in 2025 forPS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam).
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