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Tencent acquire stakes in FromSoftware

Sony and Chinese publishing giant Tencent are both set to increase their stake in Elden Ring and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware.To get more latest news on tencent, you can visit shine news official website.

In an announcement this morning, FromSoft parent company Kadokawa Corporation - which remains the majority owner of the developer - confirmed that Sony now owns 14.09% of FromSoftware. Tencent - arguably best known in the West as the company behind League of Legends developer Riot Games - now owns 16.25% of the studio.

Kadokawa Corporation says that the aim of the sale is to "proactively invest in development of more powerful game UP [...] to strengthen FromSoftware's development capabilities." It also mentions Tencent's "strength in its capabilities to develop and deploy mobile games and other network technologies in the global market," implying that FromSoft could be looking into mobile gaming in some capacity.
While none of the companies involved in the sale have mentioned specific plans, fans have their own wishlist. 'Bloodborne' has begun trending on Twitter as desire for a Bloodborne sequel continues to grow. Beyond that, attention is likely to turn to Elden Ring - as well as hopes for upcoming Elden Ring DLC, FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco have discussed their desire for the title to act as the start of a new franchise. While the future of Elden Ring seems in a better space than its more gothic older brother, it's far from clear at this point what we can expect from the deal, and Kadokawa Corporation suggests that the deal's impact on its 2023 financial results is likely to be "minor."
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Sixjoy Hong Kong, a subsidiary of Tencent, have acquired new shares in Japanese studio FromSoftware by way of a third party allotment.

In a document shared by FromSoftare's parent company Kadokawa Corporation, as spotted by VGC, Sixjoy has bought 16.25% of shares in the Dark Souls developer, while Sony has taken a 14.09% stake.

Kadokawa will retain the remaining 69.66% of shares. In the notice, the firm stated it "recognises the enhancement of capabilities for the creation, development and deployment of game IP as one of the Group's highest priorities."

"Through the implementation of the fund procurement, FromSoftware will aim to proactively invest in development of more powerful game IP for itself to strengthen FromSoftware's development capabilities and will seek to establish a framework that allows the expansion of the scope of its own publishing in the significantly growing global market," the notice continued.

The company added that it chose to allocate shares to Tencent because of its efforts to promote "media mix strategy targeting the Chinese market," and highlighted the firm's "capabilities to develop and deploy mobile games and other network technologies," which it hopes to levy to increase FromSoftware's user base.

Kadokawa also aims to "strengthen its relationship with Sony in the long term," while "maximising the utilisation of its existing IP in anime and game fields."