Sony's Kadokawa Investment Sparks Goal of 9000 Original IPs Per Year

Kadokawa Aims for 9,000 Original IP Publications Annually, Bolstered by Sony Investment

Following a significant investment from Sony Group, acquiring a 10% stake, Kadokawa Corporation has set an ambitious goal: publishing 9,000 original intellectual property (IP) titles annually by fiscal year 2027. This represents a 50% increase over their fiscal year 2023 output.

Kadokawa President Takeshi Natsuno, in an interview with Nikkei (The Nihon Keizai Shimbun), outlined the plan. The company's medium-term management plan projects 7,000 titles by fiscal year 2025, paving the way for the ultimate 9,000-title target. This expansion will leverage Sony's global distribution infrastructure to broaden Kadokawa's reach internationally. To support this ambitious growth, Kadokawa plans to increase its editorial staff by 40%, to approximately 1,000 employees.

Image From Kadokawa’s Official Website

Expanding Beyond Publishing: A Media Mix Strategy

Kadokawa's strategy extends beyond simply increasing publication numbers. The company aims to implement a comprehensive "media mix strategy," adapting its IPs into anime, games, and other media formats. Natsuno emphasized the goal of creating a system where diverse content contributes to significant successes.

This partnership benefits Sony as well. With Crunchyroll's over 15 million paid subscribers, Kadokawa's IPs will significantly enrich Sony's anime streaming offerings. Sony's interest in expanding into multimedia, including live-action adaptations and co-producing anime, aligns perfectly with Kadokawa's expansion plans.

Kadokawa's extensive IP portfolio includes notable titles such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Oshi no Ko, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Delicious in Dungeon, and My Happy Marriage. Its influence extends to the gaming world, encompassing IPs developed by subsidiaries like FromSoftware (Elden Ring), Spike Chunsoft (Danganronpa), and Acquire (Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story).

The collaboration between Kadokawa and Sony promises a significant expansion in multimedia content, leveraging the strengths of both companies to reach a global audience.