Support NeoGAF

[Mibu no ookami]

I've seen some people banter around the idea of Apple, Google, or Amazon buying Sony.

It's an interesting thing to consider, especially how it would change the industry, but in reality, it just isn't likely to happen for a myriad of reasons.

1. Japan wouldn't let it happen.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/27/jap...hip-of-firms-in-tech-and-telecom-sectors.html

2. Sony, while not the biggest company in tech, is one of the biggest. They're the 27th largest tech company. If another tech company were to buy them (note buy, not merge) the landscape of companies who could afford to do so would be quite small. You're looking at like 5-6 companies who could afford to do it and even fewer where it would make sense for their business.
https://companiesmarketcap.com/tech/largest-tech-companies-by-market-cap/

3. There is a huge poison pill involved with buying Sony. And that if you're anyone who isn't Disney, buying Sony would trigger the loss of the Spider-Man movie license, which is valued in the billions.
https://cosmicbook.news/spider-man-marvel-sony-apple

While obviously not a deal-breaker, but to buy a company like Sony means overpaying for the company and overpaying for a company like Sony only to get less value than the company is worth, just doesn't make a ton of sense.

I think if there is "Sony" is ever sold, it would be PlayStation i.e. the gaming division that is sold off, rather than the whole company and I honestly can't imagine Sony doing this. Despite how westernized PlayStation has become from a hardware and software perspective, I can't see Sony selling off their most profitable and recognized division, but crazier things have happened. I think what is more likely is a merger with Disney at some point (similar size, complementary, but also some overhead that could be downsized), but that is a topic for another day.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Can't buy what isn't for sale.

 

[ReBurn]

Can't buy what isn't for sale.

Publicly traded companies are literally for sale

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Can't buy what isn't for sale.

Let's be real. Everything is for sale.

 

[adamsapple]

Everyone's got a price.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Publicly traded companies are literally for sale

That's a massive oversimplification. Publicly traded companies can be bought either consensually or with a hostile action. For companies the size and scope of Sony there are tons of protection caveats that basically make a hostile action impossible. Even for smaller, less protected companies, it's nearly impossible, as Ubisoft clearly proved.

There are few catchphrases as silly as "Everyone's got a price." It doesn't work like that. It's literally wishful thinking that comes up because acquisition news makes everyone a little dumber every single time.

 

[Perrott]

Let's be real. Everything is for sale.

No, Sony isn't for sale.

Japan would rather go to war than to allow Sony to be sold.

 

[Agent_Nobody]

I don’t see Apple, Google or Amazon having any interest in Sony whatsoever.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

No, Sony isn't for sale.

Japan would rather go to war than to allow Sony to be sold.

You can go buy some Sony if you want Monday when the stock market opens.

 

[Rikku-X]

Let's be real. Everything is for sale.

Not in countries like Japan and China when you are talking about buying big companies.

 

[Abriael_GN]

You can go buy some Sony if you want Monday when the stock market opens.

If you think it's that easy, feel free to try and let us know how it works for you

 

[SLB1904]

Nintendo is much smaller and when ms tried to buy them they laughed out of the room

 

[Shubh_C63]

Has there ever been such a huge takeover of a Japanese company by a US company ?

 

[Beechos]

I don’t see Apple, Google or Amazon having any interest in Sony whatsoever.

If anything those are the companies i can see with the most interest. All the mentioned companies also would have an interest in their movie and music catalog not just the gaming aspect.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Has there ever been such a huge takeover of a Japanese company by a US company ?

Yes. in 1945. It ain't going to happen unless they go to war again. And America hasn't had a great track record at winning them, recently

(chill, it's a joke)

 

[Swift_Star]

There’s too much obsession with selling Sony these days. Why is that?

 

[Abriael_GN]

There’s too much obsession with selling Sony these days. Why is that?

I said it above.

acquisition news makes everyone a little dumber every single time.

 

[Agent_Nobody]

If anything those are the companies i can see with the most interest. All the mentioned companies also would have an interest in their movie and music catalog not just the gaming aspect.

Yeah, just not with the rest of it, I don’t see any of them wanting to start making TV panels or selling life insurance in Japan (which is actually a surprising amount of their revenue).

 

[jakinov]

1. Japan could let it happen still that just means they are more careful their biggest concern is China not America. America is where their biggest subsidies are HQ.

2. Lots of people can buy Sony. Doesn’t have to be tech abs they don’t need the money upfront.

3. I don’t think anyone actually knows the full details of the contract and even if that were a case there’s likely workarounds to it or Disney might even help subsidize the cost so that it comes back to them.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Japan could let it happen

They'd need to have a reason to, and such a reason does not exist.

 

[mansoor1980]

soon

 

[FStubbs]

Isn't insurance their most profitable division, not Playstation?

If they ever sold off Playstation, Tencent would definitely be in the running as they have infinite money.

 

[Airbus Jr]

There’s too much obsession with selling Sony these days. Why is that?

Some FUD hanging around

Look at this guys post on GT7 install size

Hes on full fanboy mode attacking the game even before it came out

If GT7 doesn't return Polyphony Digital towards the top of SIE, I think it might be time to put them out to pasture and maybe create a new team for Gran TurismoLike theres ever a GT game doing poor sales

 

[SSfox]

Play Ghost Of Tsushima and you will see that a Japanese "he/her/him/she/it or whatever you want" will never surrender. Sony will always be Sony.

 

[Beechos]

Yeah, just not with the rest of it, I don’t see any of them wanting to start making TV panels or selling life insurance in Japan (which is actually a surprising amount of their revenue).

Its crazy cause amazon has their fire tv line and i remember reading somewhere at some point they applied/want to sell insurance lol.

 

[ManaByte]

This thread will be funny to look back in a few years when Samsung or LG owns Sony.

 

[Airbus Jr]

This thread will be funny to look back in a few years when Samsung or LG owns Sony.

Werent you guys saying the same thing back then in 2007

 

[Gameplaylover]

Everyone's got a price.

Damn, beat me to it.

 

[Metnut]

Apple or Amazon would make the most sense. Sony has a lot of content that each would want for their streaming platform. Netflix could be a potential acquirer as well with them believing that gaming is essential to their future.

I doubt it happens though because Japanese regulators will (rightfully) not be happy and it’d be tough to get it by them.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

If Sony's car business works well, expect it to sky-rocket. They're establishing Sony Mobility Inc. this Q1 2022.

 

[TGO]

This thread will be funny to look back in a few years when Samsung or LG owns Sony.

I don't remember you ever being this funny back in 2000's

 

[SLB1904]

If Sony's car business works well, expect it to sky-rocket. They're establishing Sony Mobility Inc. this Q1 2022.

Looks a little like the porsche

 

[GreatnessRD]

Everyone's got a price.

Literally was on my way to post this. *firm handshake*

 

[yurinka]

I've seen some people banter around the idea of Apple, Google, or Amazon buying Sony.

You mentioned some good reasons of they they can't buy Sony, but there's an even more important one: Sony doesn't want or need to sell the company.

It's in a great financial shape, performing great and experiencing a good growth and with promising plans to continue growing and performing even better. They are not in the point where a company or their investors/shareholders want to sell.

Apple or Amazon would make the most sense. Sony has a lot of content that each would want for their streaming platform. Netflix could be a potential acquirer as well with them believing that gaming is essential to their future.

I doubt it happens though because Japanese regulators will (rightfully) not be happy and it’d be tough to get it by them.

soon

Everyone's got a price.

This thread will be funny to look back in a few years when Samsung or LG owns Sony.

Let's be real. Everything is for sale.

Publicly traded companies are literally for sale

Japanese regulators forbid to sell Sony and similar top tech (and other strategical areas) Japanese companies to foreign companies like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Samsung, LG or MS, so it never will happen.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Yeah, just not with the rest of it, I don’t see any of them wanting to start making TV panels or selling life insurance in Japan (which is actually a surprising amount of their revenue).

Image sensors for cameras/phones/etc like half of all cameras on planet Earth. Cloud servers image sensors and AI, car sensors, sport sensors/VAR, archival systems for servers/clouds. Sony's products are on every cloud system out there in case you've not known, they're essential for those systems. Let's not forget that Sony is GIGANTIC in movies/series/music and all the cameras needed for top end movie making, including their CLED screens (vs ancient green screens) used in latest, most expensive productions like The Mandalorian.

You really don't know what Sony is.

Looks a little like the porsche

Yes because most of the associated companies in its productions are German if you follow Sony's little documentaries about the car(s).

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Sony would sooner merge with another company than be acquired by one, and be the larger of the two companies in such a merge. But, they have no reason to sell in the first place, they're doing great.

If there's another division in the future doing poorly they'd sooner either shut that down on spin it off to be sold to another company, but that's as far as it'd go.

 

[SLB1904]

Yes because most of the associated companies in its productions are German if you follow Sony's little documentaries about the car(s).

Yeah I follow the youtube channel. Kinda fascinating the people involved

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Yeah I follow the youtube channel. Kinda fascinating the people involved

I believe it'll also be built in Germany. I'm excited for one myself, but can't see myself buying any new car any time soon.

 

[SLB1904]

I believe it'll also be built in Germany. I'm excited for one myself, but can't see myself buying any new car any time soon.

I can't see myself affording one

 

[Bo_Hazem]

I can't see myself affording one

Well, let's see how much is the asking price, but I think they won't ask for too much. It's believed that the Vision S 01 (Sedan) will be priced as the Model S from Tesla. We all know that anyone can be better than the pile of overhyped garbage, Tesla.

 

[phil_t98]

Image sensors for cameras/phones/etc like half of all cameras on planet Earth. Cloud servers image sensors and AI, car sensors, sport sensors/VAR, archival systems for servers/clouds. Sony's products are on every cloud system out there in case you've not known, they're essential for those systems. Let's not forget that Sony is GIGANTIC in movies/series/music and all the cameras needed for top end movie making, including their CLED screens (vs ancient green screens) used in latest, most expensive productions like The Mandalorian.

You really don't know what Sony is.



Yes because most of the associated companies in its productions are German if you follow Sony's little documentaries about the car(s).

lets not forget that they are split off into separate companies. the film business is separate to the electronic business

 

[Bo_Hazem]

lets not forget that they are split off into separate companies. the film business is separate to the electronic business

We all know that, and they're all under Sony. So...

 

[TrebleShot]

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Sony would sell their SIE division but whoever they buyer is would have to stump up close to 150bn to convince them to sell their most profitable business sector.

Any company is for sale at the right price and in this instance it would take something ridiculous.

It’s far cheaper and more realistic to simply poach all their talent paying them crazy salaries.

 

[phil_t98]

We all know that, and they're all under Sony. So...

well bringing the film division I not the conversation is silly

 

[VAVA Mk2]

" Someone hold my beer. Haha!"

 

[Oddvintagechap]

Sony can sell and transfer the rights contained in the license agreement(of spiderman) to individuals or other corporations, including other Major Studios.

They didnt give merchandise and shows under 30 mins for no reason.

Sony would buy or merger with Nintendo before they would be bought out by a american tech company.

 

[Holammer]

Yes, we all know Sony would prefer honorable seppuku before allowing itself to be shamefully acquired.

 

[RJMacready73]

Let's be real. Everything is for sale.

Typical American attitude that doesn't apply to the rest of the world

 

[Swift_Star]

This thread will be funny to look back in a few years when Samsung or LG owns Sony.

This is beyond pathetic at this point. Sony is still the second largest gaming company. Why would they sell to Samsung or LG?

 

[jakinov]

They'd need to have a reason to, and such a reason does not exist.

It's more they have to have reason not to. The purpose of the law is security. It's anit-China more thnan it is Anti american.