Japanese publisher Kadokawa buys From Software

Dark Souls and Armoured Core developer From Software has been acquired by Tokyo-based publisher Kadokawa Shoten.

Kadokawa is best known as a manga publisher Japan, having published the likes of Cowboy Bebop, Sgt Frog and Neon Genesis Evangelion.





However, in recent years the company has also turned to video game development and publishing.

Most recently, it published the Japanese versions of Grasshopper Manufacture's Killer Is Dead and Lollipop Chainsaw.

In a press statement Kadokawa said: "We are planning to expand our position in this business with both Kadokawa Games and From Software. We have planned a series of discussions aimed at co-operation: expanding and developing both companies while taking advantage of their areas of expertise."

The company also states that From Software will be able to take advantage of Kadokawa Games' development and marketing resources, and that both studios are expected to produce new game IP aimed at the overseas (Western) market.

It is as yet unclear how this will affect the publication of future Dark Souls games in Europe and North America. Previous titles were self-published by From Software in Japan and released by Bandai Namco in the rest of the world.

Kadokawa does not publish games in the west - its most recent self-developed title, Vita dungeon crawler Demon Gaze, was released in the West by NIS America - so it remains to be seen whether the company is planning to expand its publishing reach whether it will continue to outsource its games to other publishers for release in Europe and North America.

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