Oasis bets big on fromsoftware: activist investor snags stake in kadokawa
Activist investor Oasis Management Company has acquired an 8.86% stake in Kadokawa, the Japanese media giant behind the critically acclaimed Elden Ring and home to developer FromSoftware. This move injects a significant degree of potential influence into the company, raising questions about the future direction of the studio and its vast portfolio.
Oasis's move follows sony's strategic investment
The acquisition, confirmed by Gamebiz and Automaton, comes after Sony took a 10% stake in Kadokawa late last year, forming a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering the global reach of both companies' intellectual properties. This latest investment from Oasis brings their total holdings close to Sony's, positioning them as a considerable force within the company.
Kadokawa's appeal lies in its diverse holdings. Beyond FromSoftware, the group encompasses prominent manga publisher Spike Chunsoft (owned by its Dwango subsidiary), a significant player in anime production – responsible for popular series like Oshi no Ko and Re:Zero – and a range of other businesses.
This isn't Oasis's first attempt to influence Japanese gaming companies. Back in 2014, the firm publicly urged Nintendo to pivot towards free-to-play mobile games, famously suggesting that even a small in-app purchase – “just think of paying 99 cents just to get Mario to jump a little higher” – could generate substantial revenue. While Nintendo ultimately doubled down on consoles, the company did enter the mobile market with titles like Pokémon Go and Super Mario Run.
The timing of Oasis's investment is particularly interesting given recent reports of Bluepoint Games, the studio behind the acclaimed Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls remakes, pitching a Bloodborne remake to FromSoftware – a pitch reportedly rejected by the developer itself. FromSoftware is currently focused on The Duskbloods, a vampire-themed title for the Nintendo Switch 2, and ongoing updates to Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
The question now is what Oasis intends to achieve with its stake. While the firm hasn't yet made any public demands, its past history suggests a proactive approach to shareholder value. The company's influence could shape FromSoftware's future development strategies, potentially impacting the types of games they create and the platforms they target. The stakes are high, and the coming months will reveal whether Oasis's investment will truly reshape the landscape of Japanese gaming.