Japanese media group Kadokawa has announced that the company will acquire an 80 per cent majority stake in Tokyo-based developer From Software. Kadokawa plans to finalise the acquisition in May and the studio will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kadokawa.
The publisher also revealed plans to have From Software work with the company’s internal studio Kadokawa Games to develop titles based on existing and new Kadokawa IP, as well as expand into cloud and online distribution platforms.
Kadokawa publishes of anime films and manga books in Japan and overseas, including the Cowboy Bebop series, as well as JRPGs on the Kadokawa Shoten, ASCII Media Works and Enterbrain game labels, now consolidated into Kadokawa Games.
Kadokawa released the internally developed title Natural Doctrine in Japan this month and published Experience Inc.’s JRPG Demon Gaze in Japan early last year. Both games are slated for overseas release by NIS in 2014. Kadokawa has also distributed Grasshopper Manufacture titles Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer is Dead in Japan.
From Software has created several popular franchises including the Armored Core and Dark Souls series. The developer also published From Software games in Japan, and distributed the studio’s titles overseas in partnership with Bandai Namco and Sega.
