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Kadokawa Open to Sony Deal Under Certain Conditions

nial

Member
Side dish in the grand scheme of things. Sony want IP that they can monetise as part of there larger business, Kadokawa sits on a huge library of manga and anime works. From would be a bit part purchase in that regard, also considering how they've not really cared or showed significant interest in From Software IP in the past, I feel like it's a fair descriptor.
The IP part is true (and it's exactly what Hiroki Totoki meant a few months ago), but is bolded, at all? I think Sony investing in a internally-developed remake of a From Software-made IP for PS5's launch may say otherwise.
And we're also talking about post-20M seller Elden Ring From Software here, so yes, they're definitely part of the IP talk that obviously encompassed the whole group.
 
Delayed PC releases from FS might be an issue, but staying mutliplat shouldn't be, especially with Xbox bringing more of their games over to PS. The war is over, and unless something revolutionary happens, Xbox consoles sales will continue to slow down in a way Sony doesn't need to keep games exclusive. I genuinely don't think this matters that much from a gaming perspective.
 

Ebrietas

Member
Side dish in the grand scheme of things. Sony want IP that they can monetise as part of there larger business, Kadokawa sits on a huge library of manga and anime works. From would be a bit part purchase in that regard, also considering how they've not really cared or showed significant interest in From Software IP in the past, I feel like it's a fair descriptor.
They literally produced three of their games (including an high quality remake of one of them) and have a direct investment in the company that they recently increased.
 

near

Gold Member
They’ve done other collabs since Demon’s Souls and are said to have another one already in the works.
Sure. Not disputing that a relationship exists, just that it's not one that really benefits From as a studio. Have Sony been a better partner than Bandai Namco? I think the answer is obvious.

Sony didn't abandon it..they just didn't publish it in some places.
Sounds like a lack of faith to me.

The IP part is true (and it's exactly what Hiroki Totoki meant a few months ago), but is bolded, at all? I think Sony investing in a internally-developed remake of a From Software-made IP for PS5's launch may say otherwise.
And we're also talking about post-20M seller Elden Ring From Software here, so yes, they're definitely part of the IP talk that obviously encompassed the whole group.
Maybe they'll treat From developed IP differently moving forward, who knows. But I definitely think they could've shown more appreciation for the games From have developed for them in the past. Demon's Souls remake wasn't even handed by From, and they've yet to port that to PC. Bloodborne is probably the most demanded Sony IP for a remaster/port, but Sony have shown little interest to date. I think this deal is definitely largely about the manga/anime IP more so than From as a dev house, even if they'd still benefit the company in the long term.
 

S0ULZB0URNE

Member
Sure. Not disputing that a relationship exists, just that it's not one that really benefits From as a studio. Have Sony been a better partner than Bandai Namco? I think the answer is obvious.


Sounds like a lack of faith to me.


Maybe they'll treat From developed IP differently moving forward, who knows. But I definitely think they could've shown more appreciation for the games From have developed for them in the past. Demon's Souls remake wasn't even handed by From, and they've yet to port that to PC. Bloodborne is probably the most demanded Sony IP for a remaster/port, but Sony have shown little interest to date. I think this deal is definitely largely about the manga/anime IP more so than From as a dev house, even if they'd still benefit the company in the long term.
Sounds like a lack of faith in the areas they didn't publish it not buying it.
 
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near

Gold Member
Sounds like a lack of faith in the areas they didn't publish it not buying it.
The game bombed in reviews in Japan, and had a slow up take in sales. They refused to bring it internationally. If it wasn't for Bandai Namco and Atlus would From Software be where it is today?
 

S0ULZB0URNE

Member
The game bombed in reviews in Japan, and had a slow up take in sales. They refused to bring it internationally. If it wasn't for Bandai Namco and Atlus would From Software be where it is today?
It didn't bomb in reviews WW.
Won GOTY in fact.
It did good enough for Sony to not repeat the mistake of releasing WW with Bloodborne.
If not for DS acclaim we wouldn't of got from Sony.
 

W11d

Member
So has Activision. Sony also invest in a lot of things to make money. Let's not forget how they abandoned Demon's Souls when it came out on PS3 only for Bandai Namco and Atlus to pick up publishing rights.
Well it was Shuhei Yoshida fault
 

nial

Member
Demon's Souls remake wasn't even handed by From
So? We were talking about the IP, not the developer. It was also handled by two of the SIE producers who worked on Bloodborne and Déraciné (Kentaro Motomura and Teruyuki Toriyama).
Bloodborne is probably the most demanded Sony IP for a remaster/port, but Sony have shown little interest to date.
The issue with this is that we can't certainly know for sure about what's going on behind the scenes. I'm pretty sure I can easily find posts from 2017 of people claiming that Sony doesn't care about Demon's Souls.
They refused to bring it internationally.
You're also referring to a much different time when international branches could decide to not localize something they deemed unappealing for their domestic market.
It wasn't exactly SCEI's fault that SCEA and SCEE didn't want to bring Demon's Souls to the West.
 

nial

Member
I think this deal is definitely largely about the manga/anime IP more so than From as a dev house, even if they'd still benefit the company in the long term.
Forgot to address this in the previous post, but I would argue that it's largely thought as a general investment that could strengthen Sony's capabilities as an entertainment company. Not necessarily just looking at one side while thinking of the other as some side dish or bonus.
 

Ebrietas

Member
The game bombed in reviews in Japan, and had a slow up take in sales. They refused to bring it internationally. If it wasn't for Bandai Namco and Atlus would From Software be where it is today?
Yes? Atlus and Bamco didn’t pay to develop demons souls so the entire series wouldn’t even exist today. And that same From Software signed with Sony again to make BB, after the multiplatform dark souls 1 and 2. And they did it again with deracine. And seemingly again for a ps5 based on the hulst interview. So Miyazaki doesn’t appear to harbor the same animosity towards Sony that his so called fans do.
 
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near

Gold Member
It didn't bomb in reviews WW.
Won GOTY in fact.
It did good enough for Sony to not repeat the mistake of releasing WW with Bloodborne.
If not for DS acclaim we wouldn't of got from Sony.
Yes, but Sony abandoned it before that became a reality which is the point I made. They had a lack of faith in the game itself to realise they had a gem on there hands. If it wasn't picked up internationally by Bandai Namco and Atlus they wouldn't have realised it, and it would've been sent to die as a Japan exclusive.

So? We were talking about the IP, not the developer. It was also handled by two of the SIE producers who worked on Bloodborne and Déraciné (Kentaro Motomura and Teruyuki Toriyama).

The issue with this is that we can't certainly know for sure about what's going on behind the scenes. I'm pretty sure I can easily find posts from 2017 of people claiming that Sony doesn't care about Demon's Souls.

You're also referring to a much different time when international branches could decide to not localize something they deemed unappealing for their domestic market.
It wasn't exactly SCEI's fault that SCEA and SCEE didn't want to bring Demon's Souls to the West.
Fair point. We'll see how they move forward.
 

Varteras

Member
Yeah, yeah, you think a LOT of absolutely stupid shit.
That's nothing new.
Bill Hader Snl GIF
 

//DEVIL//

Member
Sony not releasing From Soft titles on PC (or delaying them significantly) should be the last of everyone's concerns.
Mostly because it would be a fucking retarded move and it's very unlikely they are going to do it and cripple the studio's profitability.

If anything it's far more worrying to think in what other ways Sony could meddle with the studio in general in terms (i.e. changes in overall management, stifling their creative freedom in one way or the other, asking for more diversity quota hires... That type of shit).
I don’t think Sony will touch its management of Form Software. Mainly because they don’t have a proper studio management in Japan that worth talking about. If anything I think Sony wants this to be their focal point in Japan.

And after the recent failures by the western management, I don’t think Sony Japan will allow them to touch anything Japan related. Especially considering how Astro bot did and how Japanese / Asian games are what currently saving their assess. Whatever it was stellar blade, gt7, wukong, Elden ring, Astro bot, final fantasy 7 rebirth and so on.

Sony really needs this and they need it exclusive from going to other platform ( including the PC delayed release which will still sell millions even if it’s late to the market after the PS5 release )

I am 100% certain this is the route they will take if this purchase is completed . You will NOT see a soul game day one release on PC with PlayStation and Xbox can just forget the series exist.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this what Form Software dev team wanted this to begin with since they would focus their efforts on one platform instead of 4 ( 2 series consoles, PC and PlayStation all the same time)

As mainly a primary game on PC, this kinda bothers me because I am still waiting for games like GT7 and Rebirth and even stellar blade on PC. But if Form Software joins the list of delayed PC games, then fuck it I’ll just buy the pro. Get the game used from those nerds on marketplace that finish the games in less the. 4 days for a bit cheaper than msrp . Play it and sell it without much of a loss.

My PS5 pro purchase is pending on the outcome of this purchase. Either green light or just stick with PC ( I have one PS5 console at home but my son is using it Roblox lol )
 
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near

Gold Member
Yes? Atlus and Bamco didn’t pay to develop demons souls so the entire series wouldn’t even exist today. And that same From Software signed with Sony again to make BB, after the multiplatform dark souls 1 and 2. And they did it again with deracine. And seemingly again for a ps5 based on the hulst interview. So Miyazaki doesn’t appear to harbor the same animosity towards Sony that his so called fans do.
LMAO. What animosity do you think I hold against Sony?
 

S0ULZB0URNE

Member
Yes, but Sony abandoned it before that became a reality which is the point I made. They had a lack of faith in the game itself to realise they had a gem on there hands. If it wasn't picked up internationally by Bandai Namco and Atlus they wouldn't have realised it, and it would've been sent to die as a Japan exclusive.


Fair point. We'll see how they move forward.
No they didn't.
Bloodborne is SONY's follow up to its style.
 

nial

Member
The whole Bluepoint thing is fan's wet dreams, yeah (and you know how much of a PS guy I am). What's more likely to happen is that Sony will give From Software far more funding and incentive them to hire more and better technical expertise.
I don’t think will touch its management . Mainly because they don’t have a management in Japan that worth talking about. If anything I think Sony wants this to be their focal point in Japan.

And after the recent failures by the western management, I don’t think Sony Japan will allow them to touch anything Japan related.
None of this is how SIE works.
 

//DEVIL//

Member
The whole Bluepoint thing is fan's wet dreams, yeah (and you know how much of a PS guy I am). What's more likely to happen is that Sony will give From Software far more funding and incentive them to hire more and better technical expertise.

None of this is how SIE works.
SIE doesn’t include a big company like this either. Only smaller studios .

Sony will not allow hulst or whatever that freak name is to touch this.
 
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Sentenza

Member
I don’t think Sony will touch its management of Form Software. Mainly because they don’t have a proper studio management in Japan that worth talking about. If anything I think Sony wants this to be their focal point in Japan.

And after the recent failures by the western management, I don’t think Sony Japan will allow them to touch anything Japan related. Especially considering how Astro bot did and how Japanese / Asian games are what currently saving their assess. Whatever it was stellar blade, gt7, wukong, Elden ring, Astro bot, final fantasy 7 rebirth and so on.
It ALMOST sounded like you were going to make a sensible argument in the first two lines, not gonna lie.
 

SkylineRKR

Member
Kadokawa's main draw for Sony is probably its anime output.

But for SIE this is a good deal as well. FROM is a good fit for Sony. They had succesful collabs in the past, and their software sells best there. It don't think Sony is going to change FROM in any way. They are stupid, but not that stupid. This developer has millions of very, very dedicated fans with a proven formula.

On the contrary, the next Elden Ring or Souls gets the full backing and tools from Sony. I doubt they'll be worse off really. FROM is one of my faves of all time, but technically and performance wise they are always under delivering.

If Sony find the totality of Kadokawa to be too much, then thank the Bungie deal. Its about the same value. If they could turn back time, I wonder what they would've done. Kadokawa or Bungie? lol.
 
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Thick Thighs Save Lives

NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Gaf's favorite journalist, Takashi Mochizuki, was invited today to TBS Television (Japan). There are several talk segments, with the main one focusing on the gaming side of Kadokawa's acquisition, particularly FromSoft. There is also some discussion about the PS5 Pro.

It's in Japanese so use auto-generated subtitles if you're interested in watching the video.

 

James Sawyer Ford

Gold Member
Gaf's favorite journalist, Takashi Mochizuki, was invited today to TBS Television (Japan). There are several talk segments, with the main one focusing on the gaming side of Kadokawa's acquisition, particularly FromSoft. There is also some discussion about the PS5 Pro.

It's in Japanese so use auto-generated subtitles if you're interested in watching the video.



Any interesting insights?
 
lol. Folks are forgetting there is a reason Sony is releasing on pc aka they do not have enough games to fight off pubs in their own ecosystem.

From games will be on pc & Xbox. The next question this acquisition leads to who will Msft acquire for Xbox anywhere.
 

Thick Thighs Save Lives

NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Any interesting insights?
I've skimmed through it, and it's mostly stuff that has already been discussed at length in this thread, like Kadokawa having an insane amount of valuable IP (manga, anime, etc.) which is exactly what Sony wants as it's hard to create a successful IP from scratch. Plus they profit more owning the IP as most of the anime they distribute in the West are owned by different companies.

Also, he touches on FromSoftware's importance in this acquisition, as they're one of the few Japanese gaming studios not named Nintendo that can generate 10 to 20 million sellers on a pretty consistent basis.

The comments on the video are hilarious though.

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