Big game acquisitions have dominated news anytime they come to light and the latest concernsBloodborne’sdeveloper, FromSoftware, and its parent company, Kadokawa. Usually, Microsoft and Xbox are the ones working on massive acquisitions of big studios, spending billions of dollars on the likes of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard in recent years. The money spent on these acquisitions is truly mouthwatering, and while it wouldn’t be a surprise if Microsoft was trying to buy another game-developing giant, Sony, Microsoft’s great rival in the gaming space, is the one looking to spend the big bucks on Kadokawa.
In the gaming space,Kadokawa is known as the parent company of FromSoftware, largely due to the reach, appeal, and fame that the studio has after winning two Game of the Year awards in the past five years (and it could make it three withShadow of the Erdtree’s controversial nomination). Because of this association, and with Sony owning the rights toBloodborne, there is the hope that Sony will bring the gothic Souls game to PC, or at least give it some love after its release. Even with the acquisition, however,Bloodbornestill might not get the attention it deserves.
Bloodborne Won’t Be Sony’s Priority
Elden Ring And Dark Souls Are The Bigger IPs
AlthoughBloodbornewould be a crowning jewel in most cases, it isn’t even the biggest game in FromSoftware’s library, at least in terms of sales and overall reach.Elden Ringis one of gaming’s hottest properties at the moment, potentially able to win two Game of the Year awards in two different years, thanks to its expansion, theexcellentShadow of the Erdtree. If Sony wants FromSoftware to prioritize an IP, it will probably beElden Ring, but even if it isn’t, there are better financial options with other IPs besides the belovedBloodborne.
All Demigod Bosses In Elden Ring & Shadow Of The Erdtree
Demigods are important, incredibly powerful figures in Elden Ring and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, each descended from Queen Marika.
Even ifElden Ringisn’t a priority, which would be odd considering the legal trouble FromSoftware went through to claim the rights to the IP from Bandai Namco,Bloodbornestill wouldn’t be the second-best option.TheDark Soulstrilogy has been one of the most influential game series in recent years, essentially popularizing the Soulslike genre (which was largely invented by its predecessor,Demon’s Souls). More importantly, every game in the series has outsoldBloodbornewhen comparing all FromSoftware’s best-selling titles, withDark Souls 3being the bestseller of the bunch and still being played to this day.
There are rumors circulating about a potentialDark Souls 3remasterbeing in the works.
After the award-winning phenomenon,Elden Ring, and the ground-breakingDark Soulstrilogy, there is still another title that sold better thanBloodbornewhich Sony could have FromSoftware turn to instead.Sekirowon 2019’s Game of the Year, and sold considerably more thanBloodbornewhile presenting players with something almost completely new with its deflection-based gameplay and an overt narrative. The sales ofBloodbornehave been handicapped due to its PlayStation exclusivity, but that might not matter to Sony if it just looks at the stats and considers that these titles already have an audience on PC.
Sony Will Buy More Than Just FromSoftware
Kadokawa Is More Than Just Gaming
It wouldn’t be surprising if FromSoftware wasn’t even Sony’s priority when looking at purchasing its parent company, and the developer could be left to work as it has been for the last few years. Although Kadokawa is a big name in the gaming industry with the likes of FromSoftware and Acquire Corps (joint developers of thetactical RPGOctopath Travelerseries),it is also a massive name in the manga and anime industry. On top of that, it is known for having companies in film, architecture, and many more, making it a massive Japanese media conglomerate.
After Elden Ring DLC, I Don’t Want FromSoftware’s Next Game To Be A Soulslike
Although Shadow of the Erdtree is possibly FromSoftware’s best work yet, I think the studio’s next release should step away from the Soulslike genre.
With Sony buying Crunchyroll in 2021 and merging it with Funimation in 2022, if it buys Kadokawa, it could essentially be the driving force of the anime industry.This acquisition has brought up concerns of a monopoly on the anime industry, especially since Crunchyroll has become the premier home of many exclusive titles that cannot be seen elsewhere. If Kadokawa is acquired, Sony would have a controlling stake in every part of an anime’s production, from the light novels to the titles that get released worldwide.
Kadokawa is already made up of two companies that merged in 2014, the original Kadokawa and Dwango, and is massive on its own. If combined with the giant conglomerate that Sony is, Sony would then have its finger in so many pies.It would have many more great IPs in its gaming library, specifically FromSoftware’s award-winning works, but it would also have so much control over a massive part of the anime industry, which seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year, especially with its growth in popularity in the west.
Elden Ring 2 Would Be The Better Financial Decision
Elden Ring Is Arguably The Biggest Game Of The 2020s So Far
Unfortunately,Bloodbornehasn’t been touched in almost 10 years, but that hasn’t stopped FromSoftware from continuing to make games. SinceBloodborne’s release, the studio has arguably gone from strength to strength, withElden Ringbeing its magnum opusfrom a sales and critical perspective.Elden Ringhas arguably had the greatest impact on the gaming industry in the 2020s, especially with the huge success of its expansion, alongside the CRPG giant,Baldur’s Gate 3, released in 2023.
Shadow of the Erdtreeis the first DLC to be nominated for the GOTY award at The Game Awards, causing a lot of controversy regarding an expansion’s eligibility.
If Sony wants FromSoftware to make a specific title,it will probably beElden Ring 2or some kind of spin-off in the same world, especially since the world has been made in collaboration with legendary author George R. R. Martin. It has the mainstream appeal thatBloodborneis unable to match and is far fresher in most people’s minds, considering that its expansion broke records this year and could win another GOTY award. It would be an easy moneymaker that aBloodbornetitle couldn’t hope to match, even if it sold well.
Although all eyes in the gaming industry are on FromSoftware when it comes to Sony’s acquisition of Kadokawa, it shouldn’t be forgotten what else the Japanese conglomerate will bring to Sony’s already immense reach. The control that Sony will have over anime and manga should this acquisition happen would be astounding, especially with its prior acquisition of Crunchyroll and Funimation. With everything that is on the table with this acquisition,Bloodborneprobably isn’t at the front of Sony’s mind and the IP will likely continue to gather dust for the time being.
Bloodborne
Bloodborne is an action RPG developed by FromSoftware. The player assumes control of a Hunter who must navigate the streets of the gothic city of Yharnam, contending with its hostile residents who have been transformed into bloodthirsty creatures by a plague-like disease. Seeking the source of the pestilence, the Hunter fights to uncover Yharnam’s secrets, facing horrifying beasts and cosmic entities along the way.
