Acquisition Plans: Sony Reportedly Eyes Kadokawa

Sony's Proposed Acquisition of Kadokawa: Employee Enthusiasm Despite Potential Loss of Independence

Sony's confirmed interest in acquiring Japanese conglomerate Kadokawa has sparked a surprising reaction: employee excitement. While the acquisition could mean a loss of independence, Kadokawa employees reportedly welcome the potential change, a sentiment explored further below. Negotiations are ongoing, with no final decision yet announced.

Analyst: Acquisition More Beneficial for Sony

Economic analyst Takahiro Suzuki, in an interview with Weekly Bunshun, suggests the acquisition would benefit Sony more than Kadokawa. Sony's shift towards entertainment necessitates a stronger IP portfolio, a weakness the analyst believes Kadokawa's extensive library (including titles like Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring) could address. However, this comes at the cost of Kadokawa's autonomy. As noted by Automaton West, increased oversight and stricter management are likely under Sony's control, potentially hindering Kadokawa's creative freedom.

Kadokawa Employees Express Optimism

Despite the potential drawbacks, Weekly Bunshun reports a largely positive employee response to the prospective acquisition. Many interviewed expressed no opposition, viewing Sony as a preferable alternative to the current leadership.

This positive outlook stems partly from dissatisfaction with the current Natsuno administration's handling of a June cyberattack by the BlackSuit hacking group. The attack resulted in the theft of over 1.5 terabytes of data, including sensitive employee information. The perceived inadequate response from President and CEO Takeshi Natsuno has fueled employee discontent, leading to hopes that a Sony takeover would bring about leadership changes. The sentiment among employees is that a change in leadership is desired, and Sony is seen as a positive alternative.