Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring' (Kadokawa), sources say

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/sony-talks-buy-media-powerhouse-behind-elden-ring-sources-say-2024-11-19/

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/15350715

30 points · 20 comments · view on lemmy.world

20 Comments

ReluctantZen@feddit.nl · 14 pts · 1y (2 replies)

If the market authorities authorize this, Sony will actually have a near monopoly on Japanese media.

wjs018@ani.social · 7 pts · 1y (1 reply)

Between all the BDs they would have control over through this, they already also own Crunchyroll. That would be a huge market share.

ReluctantZen@feddit.nl · 3 pts · 1y

Yes, it's fucking insane they even think they stand a chance. Edit: as in, that the market is such, that they think they have the freedom to do this

hypertown@ani.social · 10 pts · 1y

No! God please no!

ReluctantZen@feddit.nl · 9 pts · 1y

Sorry 2nd comment, but Reuters' heavy focus on FromSoftware is very harmful imo, because it makes it seem way smaller than it actually is

wjs018@ani.social · 7 pts · 1y

Another aspect of this that I just realized is that the two most timely/thorough anime news sources I use for English language articles are:

  • Anime News Network - Owned by Kadokawa
  • Crunchyroll - Owned by Sony

I can imagine a scenario in which the news groups of these two companies are consolidated. There are other English news sources out there, but it doesn't sit well with me if these two big players combine.

BonerMan@ani.social · 6 pts · 1y

I hope this shit gets blocked like hell, this would mean a defacto monopoly on Japanese media for Sony and that means nothing good.

Even_Adder@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 1y (4 replies)

There's no way this doesn't get blocked right?

SatouKazuma@ani.social · 6 pts · 1y (2 replies)

Japan doesn't have antitrust at all

Even_Adder@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 1y (1 reply)

So we're going back to zaibatsus?

SatouKazuma@ani.social · 1 pts · 1y

Astronautmeme.jpg

Never left

ReluctantZen@feddit.nl · 5 pts · 1y

God I hope market authorities aren't sleeping on this

chellewalker@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 1y (7 replies)

Important to know, but is this really relevant to anime?

SatouKazuma@ani.social · 14 pts · 1y (4 replies)

It would pretty much give Sony complete control of the industry through ownership of Aniplex and Kadokawa. BD prices would skyrocket...

wjs018@ani.social · 8 pts · 1y (3 replies)

Sony also owns Crunchyroll for digital distribution.

ReluctantZen@feddit.nl · 5 pts · 1y (1 reply)

CR falls under the Aniplex umbrella I believe.

SatouKazuma@ani.social · 3 pts · 1y

Correct

SatouKazuma@ani.social · 2 pts · 1y

Yup :/

I might quit consuming animanga if this goes through and JNC folds into Bookwalker.

shadowedcross@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 1y

Yes. Kadokawa has several anime studio subsidiaries, and also publishes manga.

kani2908@ani.social · 8 pts · 1y

https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/1696/Kadokawa

Here is the list of anime that Kadokawa produced. I'm sure you would know many anime on the list.