Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of Dark Souls and Elden Ring, has addressed recent concerns about shareholder pressure affecting FromSoftware's parent company Kadokawa. In a statement to fans, Miyazaki insisted that FromSoftware can still "freely make the kind of games we want to make without excessive interference."
Kadokawa has been in the spotlight in Japan after activist investment firm Oasis Management Company gradually acquired a 13.76% stake, surpassing Sony's 11.01% share. Oasis, known for pushing companies to boost shareholder returns, has previously suggested Nintendo should move to mobile gaming. The firm has also called for the removal of Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno, a move Kadokawa opposes ahead of its June 24 shareholder meeting.
Fans worry that Oasis might pressure FromSoftware to change its approach, potentially forcing more frequent releases or monetization of its franchises. However, Miyazaki, in an email to Denfaminico Gamer, expressed satisfaction with the creative environment at FromSoftware. "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 wrote.
Miyazaki emphasized that maintaining this environment is crucial for both him and FromSoftware. He assured players that the studio is working harder than ever on amazing games and urged them to "look forward to both the announced and unannounced titles to come."
Upcoming FromSoftware titles include Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Switch 2 and the new action game The Duskbloods. Elden Ring has sold 30 million copies worldwide, and while Miyazaki stated in December 2024 that the developer isn't considering Elden Ring 2, he didn't rule it out for the future. An Elden Ring movie is also in development.
