Sony Wants to Buy Kadokawa and Their Employees Are Thrilled

Sony's Potential Acquisition of Kadokawa: Employee Enthusiasm Amidst Concerns

Sony's confirmed interest in acquiring Kadokawa has sparked a wave of optimism among Kadokawa employees, despite potential implications for the company's autonomy. While negotiations continue, the acquisition's impact remains a subject of debate.

Analyst Highlights Potential Benefits for Sony

Economic analyst Takahiro Suzuki, in an interview with Weekly Bunshun, suggests the acquisition would primarily benefit Sony. Sony's strategic shift towards entertainment necessitates a stronger IP portfolio, a weakness Kadokawa excels in. Kadokawa's impressive IP library, encompassing titles like Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring, makes it an attractive target for Sony's expansion.

However, this acquisition could compromise Kadokawa's operational independence, leading to stricter management and potentially hindering creative freedom. As noted by Automaton West, projects not directly contributing to IP development may face increased scrutiny.

Kadokawa Employees Welcome the Change

Despite this potential loss of independence, many Kadokawa employees reportedly view the Sony acquisition favorably. Interviews conducted by Weekly Bunshun reveal a positive sentiment, with employees expressing a preference for Sony's leadership over the current administration.

This positive outlook stems largely from dissatisfaction with the current leadership under Takeshi Natsuno. A veteran employee cited the inadequate response to a significant data breach earlier this year as a key factor contributing to this dissatisfaction. The hope is that a Sony takeover would lead to a change in leadership.

The June cyberattack by the BlackSuit hacking group resulted in the theft of over 1.5 terabytes of data, including sensitive internal documents and employee personal information. The perceived lack of effective response from Natsuno's administration has fueled employee discontent and contributed to the positive reception of a potential Sony acquisition.