• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Sony acquires 14.1% of From and Tencent also got 16.3%

TheDarkPhantom

Gold Member
You must be leftist moron. But don't worry your government is just socialist. That is not like the same as communism with another name....

You forgot to change your avatar to Ukrainian flag by the way, that'll show them

Lmao, if I'm anything I'm a conservative and despise virtue-signaling losers but here, let me try to edify you simple minded pissants (even though I know I'm wasting my time). This goes far beyond simple economics, the Chinese are playing the long game and want to control what is one of the biggest money making industries in the world: gaming (they already control rare earth minerals, go educate yourselves).

What's the problem the moron asks? Well, the Communist Chinese government is dead set on taking America's position as *the* global superpower and spreading their ideology across the world, again, looooong game, $$$ used to fund conflicts against the West. Now I'm not American but you best believe I represent and hold dear the values and way of life of the Western world, was born into it, live it and breath it. If *you* don't go ahead and move to China, let us know how that works out for you.

Colin Moriarty has been covering this issue for a long time though I don't recall him going this deep into before and I believe his main issue with it is what follows below.

Beyond that you have issues of censorship, unilaterally deciding what devs can and can't make. Ignoring all the other (much more relevant) stuff that alone should make you think beyond the shallow pool you inhabit and realize why this is a problem.

You've been enlightened, go with God children and don't come back with "but but but what about all the BAD THINGS America has done!??". Yes, they have a lot of blood on their hands, would still have them "running shit" 1000x over vs the fucking the Chinese.
 
Last edited:

Kokoloko85

Member
"Tencent 16.25%"

Sony fanboys should be more worried of Tencent then Microsoft.

BTW, didn't the Japanese government kind of frown upon foreign companies acquiring Japanese companies?

Tencent’s not really buying huge publishers like Bethesda and Activision. Also Xbox as a platform is Playstations competitiion. They can make the IP’s they buy exclusive to Xbox. Tencent cant do that atm
 

onesvenus

Member
if both Sony and Tencent did not want MS to get FROM any deal would be dead in the wasted…

Sure, but it is also a cheap way to prevent MS acquisitions me-thinks. Not sure it is a smart move for the next 15-20 years, but as long as Tencent does not align with GamePass or launches their competing consoles is a bit dirty but potentially working strategy.
They "only" have a 30% stake. On the hypothetical case that Microsoft buys all Kadokawa shares in From, why do you think that 30% would block anything?
 
Last edited:

Amiga

Member
The talent of From is creativity not IP worth. Cheaper to just hire Hidetaka Miyazaki and a few of his staff. This is what a Chinese company did with the Yakuza director.
 

Infamy v1

Member
The very OP states that this was done mainly to help them self-publish and not rely on third party publishers who own practically all of their valuable IP:

Bandai Namco owns:
Elden Ring
Dark Souls

Sony owns:
Bloodborne
Demon’s Souls
Déraciné

FromSoftware are wondering how they're one of the most popular and successful developers in the world yet only own Armored Core and the Sekiro IP (which publishing rights outside of JP is owned by Activision, but they can technically work on a Sekiro 2).

Combine the above with the fact that Kadokawa still own the vast majority of shares and carefully limited what was sold to Tencent (who is the second highest shareholder now) and Sony.

Now throw logic out the window and ask yourself why fanboys are pretending this has anything to do with exclusive games (Sony already own the most IP from them, which was given in exchange for publishing, the very thing in the OP that they want to finally do themselves) or Sony somehow buying From Software when even Kadokawa allowed a Chinese company to buy more shares than Sony.

The mental gymnastics are amazing to watch this morning while sipping on some coffee.

1) There is 100% going to be a sequel to Elden Ring. You don't create an absolute gaming zeitgiest that is almost unequal in critical reception (Metacritic and word of mouth) and commercial success ($$$) to drop the IP and start a new one. Obviously they made Dark Souls to go behind Sony's back with Demon's Souls, but the game and genre was incredibly niche back then.

2) We should be happy that From Software wants to own their IP and not have them locked down by Bandai Namco and Sony, and limited by Activision.

3) Kadokawa wants to expand more into visual media and movies; they already specialize in manga, magazines and visual novels. What better way than Tencent (China, mobile) and Sony (movies, anime)?

Nah, throw these facts away. All of this is really 4D chess by Jim Ryan. Just you wait and see!
 


The real question is what is Tencent endgame here?

im better star trek GIF
 

Duchess

Member
People are asking my Sony didn't buy all of FROM. Well, the decision would've been with the shareholders, and they might have voted No.

With Tencent now involved, Bloodborne will likely appear on Xbox, iPhone, Android, Stadia, Luna, Switch, PC, Gameboy Colour, and Atari ST*

(* - no Amiga version, due to the devs not being able to port the 68000 assembly over in the required time frame)
 
Last edited:

ChorizoPicozo

Gold Member
People are asking my Sony didn't buy all of FROM. Well, the decision would've been with the shareholders, and they might have voted No.

With Tencent now involved, Bloodborne will likely appear on Xbox, iPhone, Android, Stadia, Luna, Switch, PC, Gameboy Colour, and Atari ST*

(* - no Amiga version, due to the devs not being able to port the 68000 assembly over in the required time frame)
Wet dream much?
 
At least Sony can't acquire the company, preventing other platforms from playing FromSoftware games.
Since From Software work for hire, everybody can invest in new IPs. Like Bloodborne for Sony or Ninja Blade for Microsoft. Their history is full of exclusives games. Right now they are working with Namco Bandai, but there's nothing that prevents another company to make a deal for an exclusive project.
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
If it comes to a takeover Sony better pay whatever it takes - would automatically become the best first party studio on the planet (for as long as Miyazaki is there).
 

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
Everything’s going to be Chinese compliant in the future.
They’re going to own the gaming industry in my lifetime.
 
Last edited:

onesvenus

Member
It is still a strong internal vote and that would be a bit of an aggressive takeover approach, I think Tencent and others would step up their investment before it happened.
I don't think a 70% vote for an acquisition vs a 30% against would be an aggressive takeover. That's also assuming Tencent would not sell their part the same way NetEase did with Bungie when it was bought by Sony.

Saying that this blocks any other acquisition is wishful thinking IMO. Not that I think it would happen though
 

lh032

I cry about Xbox and hate PlayStation.
People are asking my Sony didn't buy all of FROM. Well, the decision would've been with the shareholders, and they might have voted No.

With Tencent now involved, Bloodborne will likely appear on Xbox, iPhone, Android, Stadia, Luna, Switch, PC, Gameboy Colour, and Atari ST*

(* - no Amiga version, due to the devs not being able to port the 68000 assembly over in the required time frame)
No Way Wtf GIF by Harlem
 

Pejo

Member
You must be seeing the world through some fanboy glasses or something. This is typical business activity. 2 companies invested in a developer that can help their platform and the successful developer can use that to expand so it can create more content in hopes of replicating their recent success.
Show me one of these recent acquisitions that have been positive for gamers in general, and not just a feather in a hat of fanbois for a particular platform. Show me where tencent being involved in ANYTHING has been a benefit to gamers as a whole.
Vultures eat carrion and the circling imagery is meant to imply that the object being circled is struggling and about to die. The metaphor you are misusing only works if From was struggling not after it has had the biggest success it has ever experienced.

nerd-ackchyually.gif
 

skneogaf

Member
With the way Sony has handled bloodborne I'm not happy with more of Sony owning FROMSOFTWARE.

I firmly believe if Microsoft had FROMSOFTWARE then bloodborne would have been patched to be 4k@60fps and or brought to pc.
 

Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
I don't think a 70% vote for an acquisition vs a 30% against would be an aggressive takeover. That's also assuming Tencent would not sell their part the same way NetEase did with Bungie when it was bought by Sony.

Saying that this blocks any other acquisition is wishful thinking IMO. Not that I think it would happen though
Maybe, but I think it is warning shots / some protection against it. That 30% is the percentage now, it might grow, and it is two single shareholders (others may fall in line). I think Sony is trying to be strategic here to ensure it does not happen without going for an acquisition approach.

I do not think Tencent wants to make MS and GamePass stronger… so not sure they would sell to MS.
 
Lmao, if I'm anything I'm a conservative and despise virtue-signaling losers but here, let me try to edify you simple minded pissants (even though I know I'm wasting my time). This goes far beyond simple economics, the Chinese are playing the long game and want to control what is one of the biggest money making industries in the world: gaming (they already control rare earth minerals, go educate yourselves).

What's the problem the moron asks? Well, the Communist Chinese government is dead set on taking America's position as *the* global superpower and spreading their ideology across the world, again, looooong game, $$$ used to fund conflicts against the West. Now I'm not American but you best believe I represent and hold dear the values and way of life of the Western world, was born into it, live it and breath it. If *you* don't go ahead and move to China, let us know how that works out for you.

Colin Moriarty has been covering this issue for a long time though I don't recall him going this deep into before and I believe his main issue with it is what follows below.

Beyond that you have issues of censorship, unilaterally deciding what devs can and can't make. Ignoring all the other (much more relevant) stuff that alone should make you think beyond the shallow pool you inhabit and realize why this is a problem.

You've been enlightened, go with God children and don't come back with "but but but what about all the BAD THINGS America has done!??". Yes, they have a lot of blood on their hands, would still have them "running shit" 1000x over vs the fucking the Chinese.
Your parents did not teach you to clean your mouth, you condescending asshole. First you call me pig and thinking you showed me and now you come with this political bullshit and calling me simple minded peasant who the fuck are you? The holy priest of righteousness or some Royal King that came to bring us enlightenment about the geopolitics in a gaming forum. Most of the derangement you wrote is propaganda bullshit that you eat every day and accept without second thought. Where have the Chinese touched you? Was it a single time experience or continuous?
 

John Wick

Member
Lmao, if I'm anything I'm a conservative and despise virtue-signaling losers but here, let me try to edify you simple minded pissants (even though I know I'm wasting my time). This goes far beyond simple economics, the Chinese are playing the long game and want to control what is one of the biggest money making industries in the world: gaming (they already control rare earth minerals, go educate yourselves).

What's the problem the moron asks? Well, the Communist Chinese government is dead set on taking America's position as *the* global superpower and spreading their ideology across the world, again, looooong game, $$$ used to fund conflicts against the West. Now I'm not American but you best believe I represent and hold dear the values and way of life of the Western world, was born into it, live it and breath it. If *you* don't go ahead and move to China, let us know how that works out for you.

Colin Moriarty has been covering this issue for a long time though I don't recall him going this deep into before and I believe his main issue with it is what follows below.

Beyond that you have issues of censorship, unilaterally deciding what devs can and can't make. Ignoring all the other (much more relevant) stuff that alone should make you think beyond the shallow pool you inhabit and realize why this is a problem.

You've been enlightened, go with God children and don't come back with "but but but what about all the BAD THINGS America has done!??". Yes, they have a lot of blood on their hands, would still have them "running shit" 1000x over vs the fucking the Chinese.
I wouldn't want fucking either. Why is it the USA can't leave other sovereign countries alone? What business is it of theirs? The double standards are astounding. Do as we say not as we do!
 

blacktout

Member
I do not get why you would want to have 14% of FROM… it does not protect someone like MS coming in and buying them, it does not give you much control… then again, if both Sony and Tencent did not want MS to get FROM any deal would be dead in the wasted… enemy of my enemy is my friend?

This isn't about console wars IP control. This is about getting a share of the profits of a studio on the rise. Corporations measure success in currency, not exclusives.
 
Last edited:

akimbo009

Gold Member
Your parents did not teach you to clean your mouth, you condescending asshole. First you call me pig and thinking you showed me and now you come with this political bullshit and calling me simple minded peasant who the fuck are you? The holy priest of righteousness or some Royal King that came to bring us enlightenment about the geopolitics in a gaming forum. Most of the derangement you wrote is propaganda bullshit that you eat every day and accept without second thought. Where have the Chinese touched you? Was it a single time experience or continuous?

This is getting out of hand. China is committing genocide, they need no defense force.
 

Ansphn

Member
This is great news it Playstation and Tencent and not Microsoft.

Playstaion + FROM soft = a game will be made.
Tencent = a mobile game will be made ( Wouldnt mind a FROM free to play)
Microsoft = a game will be delayed or not released at all or if released its pure shit like what they did to Halo.
 
Top Bottom