As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen the industry evolve from humble beginnings to the colossal beast it is today. Through countless hours spent slaying dragons, solving puzzles, and saving the world, I’ve grown particularly fond of certain developers who have consistently delivered masterpieces that challenge me, engage my imagination, and push the boundaries of what gaming can be. FromSoftware is one such developer, a veritable titan among giants, whose work I hold in the highest esteem.
This morning, rumors surfaced suggesting Sony might acquire Kadokawa, FromSoftware’s current parent company. While nothing is set in stone, there appears to be growing momentum towards a potential agreement that could transpire soon. If successful, this deal may result in part of FromSoftware being under PlayStation’s control, which would potentially have an overall adverse impact on the gaming industry as a whole.
Over the last ten years, FromSoftware has solidified its status as one of the world’s most gifted video game developers. Although studios like Rockstar Games may have a higher profile (particularly among Western audiences), the remarkable feats achieved by FromSoftware during this period cannot be ignored. Since 2014, they’ve delivered hits such as Dark Souls II, Dark Souls III, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Elden Ring, and Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. This impressive portfolio has earned them two Game of the Year awards at The Game Awards and a third nomination this year for Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
One remarkable aspect of FromSoftware’s recent journey is that their games have generally been playable on various platforms, except for Bloodborne which was exclusive to PS4. Other than Bloodborne, each of the mentioned titles has been released on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, providing a sense of reassurance during the gaming industry’s consolidation last year, as players can almost always expect a new FromSoftware game to be accessible across multiple platforms.
Related: Dark Souls 3 Remaster Claimed to Be in the Works
If Sony were to acquire Kadokawa, it might no longer be unusual for FromSoftware to become part of Sony’s developer family at PlayStation Studios. Although not a certainty, it wouldn’t be unexpected if Sony, with its increased influence over FromSoftware, decided to incorporate the company into their roster. Based on PlayStation’s historical approach, this could mean that FromSoftware might exclusively create games for the PS5 and any future consoles that Sony develops.
This situation also highlights the question of who holds the intellectual property (IP) rights for FromSoftware’s games. Although FromSoftware owns titles like Elden Ring, Armored Core, and Sekiro, they do not fully own the rights to Dark Souls, which is partially owned by Bandai Namco. If FromSoftware were to join Sony, it could mean the end of their involvement with the Dark Souls series since they might no longer be able to work on it.
It’s worth noting that FromSoftware might not be the best fit for PlayStation Studios right now, given the current challenges they’re facing. In the past year, Sony has closed down London Studio and Firewalk Studio, with Firewalk’s latest release, Concord, being a significant commercial flop. Additionally, there have been multiple rounds of layoffs at Bungie, a significant acquisition for Sony in the past. At this point, it seems that PlayStation Studios is struggling to effectively manage its existing projects, so it’s unclear how adding FromSoftware would address these clearly apparent issues.
Of course, it can’t go without saying that the only silver lining to any of this would be that a version of FromSoftware under Sony would likely be able to work on Bloodborne and even Demon’s Souls once again. The longstanding dreams and requests from fans (myself included) for a Bloodborne remaster, remake, or even sequel would surely come to pass if Sony were to be in control of FromSoftware. Still, this trade-off isn’t one that I would be willing to make given all of the other downsides that would come about with such a move.
Frankly, I’m weary of the rampant video game acquisitions that have flooded the market lately. Giants like Sony, Microsoft, and even Embracer have been engaged in an endless competition, buying talent recklessly. This frenzy has mostly led to layoffs and dwindling successes, save for a few exceptional cases. Instead of risking FromSoftware falling into the same traps that many other studios have stumbled into following corporate acquisitions, it seems wiser to let them carry on independently.
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2024-11-19 22:09