Comments on: FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa criticized for relying on third-party publishing and allowing “profit leakage” by activist shareholder

By: Blu

Blu — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:42:13 +0000

I wonder if they have someone in mind they will “suggest” take over. So many companies will regret just how influential global politics hands being played in their market. Hong Kong is controlled by the CCP and wonder if Oasis funding can lead back to them. It will be the same thing as Tencent and everything they do acting in that accord.

Other than that, that is their big complaint? More control of From Software when board hasn’t been against self publishing? And who is taking a 25% share?

By: Ferlucio

Ferlucio — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:06:15 +0000

The less money Activision gets the better

By: Max C Wallach

Max C Wallach — Fri, 22 May 2026 20:43:31 +0000

Wow, I think from is smart to use a third part for publishing in the states. While elden ring is a major heavy weight in the industry it got there through slow natural growth through fans and word of mouth. The formula that led to this point was built on experimental design theories that went against what was the accepted norm to carve out a niche and slowly expand its reach through sequels and merging ideas. When a company takes on the responsibility of producing a game worldwide it has less room to mess up. All of a sudden focus groups become more important and ideas start getting shoehorned into a project because they worked in other places. Any of these things would put from on a decent from grace. Fromsoft needs extra finical room to experiment or the ideas will just be one annualized slop.

By: Pmoney5

Pmoney5 — Fri, 22 May 2026 18:16:51 +0000

A better Kadokawa will only happen without the hedge funds involvement. They aren’t the savior of Kadokawa the reaction from fans. After finding out who and what they are is proof enough of that.

By: Manuel Edward Meza

Manuel Edward Meza — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:03:52 +0000

Amazingly written article! I wish Chinese shareholders would stop strong arming developers though

By: Jork

Jork — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:46:59 +0000

uh, it’s “secure the largest return on investment.”

By: Mccorda

Mccorda — Fri, 22 May 2026 13:08:57 +0000

And this is the beginning of how profit-motivated investors bully a company into short-term profit-seeking at the expense of longevity. First it’s the publisher. Next it’ll be the programmers, to be laid off after they’ve outlived their usefulness to the current title. In the end, the company will fail because it cannibalized its long-term assets for short-term profit.

By: MeteorCat07

MeteorCat07 — Fri, 22 May 2026 13:06:38 +0000

Honestly I don’t know if going the self-publishing route would work out well, but hey what do I know, right?

But I am strictly against Fromsoft becoming a publicly owned studio or anything of the sort, they should remain private so that nothing interferes with their game development.

By: keith

keith — Fri, 22 May 2026 13:03:41 +0000

Having Fromsoft self publish around the entire globe is so stupid. Framing publishing expense as “leaking profit” is true late-stage capitalist brainslop. Why would you shove the responsibilities of global publishing on a smaller Japan-based DEVELOPMENT studio? Fromsoft’s success is entirely centered around perfecting and improving a consistent formula. Making FS responsible for publishing is out of their wheelhouse and only the most troglodyte finance bro would think this is an effective way to raise profits.