Kadokawa Employees “thrilled at the prospect” of a Sony Acquisition Because They Would “get rid of the President first”

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Kadokawa Employees “thrilled at the prospect” of a Sony Acquisition Because They Would “get rid of the President first”

The gaming industry loves a good corporate drama, and the recent saga between Sony and Kadokawa has delivered more twists than a FromSoftware boss fight. What started as a simple acquisition rumor in October has spiraled into a fascinating tale of employee revolt, cybersecurity mishaps, and leadership woes.

Corporate drama hits different when employees want change. | Image Credit: FromSoftware

But while most corporate takeover stories have employees nervously updating their resumes, this one’s different. The folks at Kadokawa, the powerhouse behind Elden Ring maker FromSoftware and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero developer Spike Chunsoft, have actually been cheering from the sidelines for the new management. And boy, do they have their reasons.

The story that’s unfolded over the past few months reads like a corporate thriller, complete with cyber attacks, leaked documents, and enough internal drama to fill a light novel series—which, coincidentally, Kadokawa also publishes.

When employees start rooting for the competition

The first hints of trouble surfaced when Sony’s interest in acquiring Kadokawa became public knowledge in October. But instead of the usual fears about corporate restructuring, something unexpected has been happening behind the scenes.

A veteran Kadokawa employee, speaking anonymously to

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magazine (via

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), revealed:

The people around me are thrilled at the prospect of an acquisition by Sony.

This enthusiasm wasn’t just about potential new opportunities. The same employee went on to explain the root cause of this unusual sentiment:

That’s because there’s a certain number of employees who are dissatisfied with the Natsuno administration, which didn’t even bother to hold a press conference after peoples’ personal information was leaked in the cyberattack.

The cyberattack in question, perpetrated by the BlackSuit ransomware group, resulted in the theft of over

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of sensitive data. CEO Takeshi Natsuno’s handling of the crisis—or lack thereof—seems to have been the final straw for many employees, who didn’t ****** words about their hopes:

They expect that if Sony were to acquire the company, they would get rid of the president first.

The unprecedented spectacle of employees openly rooting for their company’s acquisition speaks volumes about the deteriorating relationship between Kadokawa’s workforce and its leadership since Natsuno’s appointment in June 2021. As winter approached, however, both companies had something entirely different in mind.

A plot twist worthy of a Kadokawa light novel

Not the resolution those employees have been hoping for. | Image Credit: FromSoftware

Just when everyone thought Sony might swoop in for a full takeover, the story took an unexpected turn. On December 19, both companies announced what amounts to a corporate “let’s just be friends” agreement—a strategic partnership worth ¥50 billion ($320 million) that gives Sony a 10% stake in Kadokawa.

The deal, set to be finalized on January 7, 2025, means Sony will become Kadokawa’s largest shareholder without actually taking control. Think of it as getting a seat at the family dinner table without moving in completely. This arrangement promises to strengthen both companies’ positions in everything from IP creation to global content distribution.

For gaming fans worried about their favorite franchises, this means FromSoftware and Spike Chunsoft will maintain their independence while potentially benefiting from Sony’s resources and global reach. It’s like getting the best of both worlds—assuming the partnership works as intended.

Whether this compromise will satisfy Kadokawa’s change-hungry employees remains to be seen. After all, they were hoping for new management, not just a new business partner. But hey, at least they got something out of this corporate soap opera.

What do you think about this unexpected development? Are you relieved that Kadokawa will maintain its independence, or do you think the employees deserved the complete leadership change they were hoping for? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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#Kadokawa #Employees #thrilled #prospect #Sony #Acquisition #rid #President

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