Sony's Acquisition of Kadokawa Excites Employees

Sony's potential acquisition of Kadokawa has sparked excitement among Kadokawa employees, despite concerns about potential loss of independence. This article explores the reasons behind their optimism.

Analyst: Acquisition More Beneficial for Sony

Sony's confirmed bid to acquire Kadokawa, while still under negotiation, has generated mixed reactions. Analyst Takahiro Suzuki, as reported by Weekly Bunshun, suggests the deal primarily benefits Sony. Sony's shift towards entertainment necessitates strong intellectual property (IP) development, an area where Kadokawa excels, boasting a portfolio including Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring. However, this acquisition would place Kadokawa under Sony's control, potentially restricting its creative freedom. As Automaton West notes, this could lead to stricter management and increased scrutiny of projects not directly contributing to IP creation.

Employee Optimism Despite Potential Loss of Independence

Interestingly, Weekly Bunshun reports a positive employee sentiment towards a potential Sony takeover. Many employees reportedly favor the acquisition, expressing a preference for Sony over 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 acquisition would bring about leadership changes. A veteran Kadokawa employee interviewed for the article summarized the general feeling as "thrilled at the prospect" of a Sony acquisition, primarily due to dissatisfaction with the current management.