FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki has reassured fans that the acclaimed Japanese developer remains free to create the games it wants despite growing attention surrounding investor activity at parent company Kadokawa.
Investor Activity at Kadokawa
Investment firm Oasis Management has increased its stake in Kadokawa to 13.76%, making it the company's largest shareholder ahead of Sony, which holds an 11.01% stake. This development has prompted discussion among players about whether increased shareholder influence could affect the future direction of FromSoftware and its projects.
Oasis Management's Stance
Oasis has publicly praised FromSoftware's commercial success through franchises including Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Armored Core. However, the firm has argued that Kadokawa is not fully capitalising on the developer's value and has previously called for changes within the company's leadership.
Miyazaki's Response
In response to concerns, Miyazaki told Denfaminico Gamer that while he is aware of media reports regarding the situation between Oasis and Kadokawa, he could not discuss the matter in detail. Speaking about the studio's working environment, Miyazaki said, "I'm not saying that there's no room for improvement but we can freely make the kind of games we want to make without excessive interference."
He added, "I think for both myself and for FromSoftware, the most important thing going forward is to maintain this environment and focus as much as possible on game development."
Future Projects
Addressing fans directly, Miyazaki said the company continues to focus on creating new experiences and encouraged players to look forward to future releases. He stated that players should "look forward to both the announced and unannounced titles to come."
The comments arrive as FromSoftware prepares to release several projects, including Elden Ring Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 and the upcoming action title The Duskbloods. Meanwhile, speculation continues among fans about what may follow after Elden Ring, which has sold 30 million copies worldwide. Although Miyazaki previously indicated that Elden Ring 2 is not currently being considered, he has not ruled out the possibility of a sequel in the future.
