Today Kadokawa Shoten acquired From Software, the people behind the popular and sadistic Souls franchise. Kadokawa is a company known mainly for its manga publishing and have brought titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Code Geass, Trinity Blood, and many more to their waiting readers.

On top of the manga business, they have had their hands in both the development and publishing (in Japan) of video games as well. Two of their published titles that Americans might be familiar with are Killer is Dead and Lollipop Chainsaw. Kadakawa also had some part in developing two entries in the Lunar series which have also come to the U.S.

According to a recent press statement, the Kadokawa company is looking to further get a foothold in the video game industry, and they plan to use the strengths of From and their own studios to do so. It sounds like they also have plans to create a new collaborated IP which will be aimed at Western markets according to their press release. Considering Dark Souls II’s explosive sales numbers, From Software’s purchase isn’t remotely out of left field.

My Opinion:

From Software has been putting out good titles and doing good work for years. It’s about time that someone takes notice of that and snatches them up. However happy I am that they’re getting some recognition, it is surprising that Kadokawa is the company to take them in. It seems that Kadokawa has had some experience with gaming but I couldn’t help but feel a small bit of worry in the back of my mind when I read this piece of news. Of course I hope for the best but it struck me as strange.

What will make me sleep well is knowing that just because From now has someone to answer to it’s not a death sentence. In the recent years I’ve noticed that there are two ways to handle things when it comes to buying companies. There is the Disney way; a very hands off approach like they took with Marvel. Then there’s the dictating manner where they stifle creativity and smother the people under them. I know myself and many other fans hope for the former.

Myles K Farrington is a new writer on the MONG team and a rather dapper fellow. Keep up with him over at IGN as well!