PlayStation Set to Expand — Sony Reportedly Plans to Buy Up Well‑Known Franchises

Sony intends to broaden its portfolio of intellectual property to become, in effect, an “entertainment trading house.” The company is pursuing not only new games but also assets across film and anime.

According to Nikkei Asia, Sony aims to buy whole franchises rather than minority stakes in companies. In the gaming sector the corporation already holds substantial share positions in FromSoftware and Bandai Namco, but it is now seeking direct ownership and control of franchises. The report also cites Electronic Arts: the publisher was acquired for $55 billion, but will carry about $20 billion in debt after the transaction. That burden could push EA to divest some of its brands. Dragon Age and Mass Effect are among the titles floated as possible candidates to be revitalized under Sony’s oversight.

Another possible target is WB Games, amid discussions about a merger involving its parent company and Paramount. At the same time, Sony continues to work on its own series—some of which have been dormant—while actively preparing screen adaptations of its games.

All of this is unfolding alongside a corporate reshuffle. Sony has spun off Sony Financial Group, whose shares are valued at roughly $9.5 billion and are already trading publicly. For years the company suffered from a “conglomerate discount,” which left its market value below that of peers.

Source: iXBT.games