Hero-of-Time Posted November 19 Posted November 19 Looks like Sony is sniffing around Kadokawa. Quote NEW YORK/TOKYO, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Sony is in talks to acquire Kadokawa, the Japanese media powerhouse behind the "Elden Ring" game, two sources familiar with the matter said, as the technology giant looks to add to its entertainment portfolio. The talks between the two sides are ongoing and, if successful, a deal could be signed in the coming weeks, the sources said. Sony declined to comment. Kadokawa said it cannot comment.
Dcubed Posted November 19 Author Posted November 19 Sony really are going for that anime monopoly huh? This really shouldn’t be allowed when they already control so much of the anime industry as it is. Never mind the ramifications on the game industry (most notably From Software and Spike Chunsoft), Kadokawa are a huge Japanese media conglomerate in their own right.
Hero-of-Time Posted November 19 Posted November 19 21 minutes ago, Dcubed said: Sony really are going for that anime monopoly huh? This really shouldn’t be allowed when they already control so much of the anime industry as it is. I'd be very surprised if it is allowed to go ahead for the very reason you said. They own a lot of that market already and so would they even be allowed to purchase even more of it?
Hero-of-Time Posted November 19 Posted November 19 This rumour has popped up about the acquisition. Quote For those who don't know, Kakao has been rapidly buying up Kadokawa's shares over the past year and there are signs of a potential takeover. If they're negotiating a buyout with Sony, it's likely so they remain Japanese owned. That's also why regulators won't interfere. 1
Hero-of-Time Posted November 20 Posted November 20 Huge update for Portal owners. Quote Just over a year ago, we launched our first dedicated remote play device, PlayStation Portal remote player, with an aspiration to deliver a console-quality gaming experience on a handheld device. PS Portal was an ambitious product for us, and we have been delighted by the positive response from our fans and to see that our vision has resonated with the community. Today we're pleased to announce a new system software update for PS Portal that will begin releasing starting later today (Europe release begins Wednesday), which will introduce refinements in the audio experience, including: Speaker audio output adjustment to make the volume lower when the audio level is set to minimum You will now be able to adjust settings of your PlayStation Link device from the PS Portal Settings menu, allowing you to optimize the volume and sidetone volume. This update will also include a beta version of a new feature that many fans have been asking for – support for cloud streaming on PS Portal. When the update is live, PlayStation Plus Premium members will be able to participate in a beta for cloud streaming on PS Portal, allowing select PS5 games in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog* to be streamed directly from our servers, even without a PS5 console. Since Cloud Streaming (Beta) on PS Portal is still an experimental offering, the features available during the beta period may change over time and may not reflect the final experience. Features available during the Beta Stream select PS5 games in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog Over 120 PS5 games from the PS Plus Game Catalog, including Dave the Diver, Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Monster Hunter Rise, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, will be accessible on PS Portal via cloud streaming* Streaming up to 1080p/60fps** DualSense wireless controller features, including haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, speakers, touchpad (emulated on the touch screen for PS Portal), and motion sensor*** PlayStation Plus Cloud storage Save data and game progress can be stored up to 100GB and will be automatically synced with your PS5 console, making it easy to switch seamlessly between local and streaming gameplay, and between multiple devices. Cloud Streaming (Beta) for PS Portal will be available through the PlayStation Plus Premium plan, which is offered in the following locations: It no longer being tethered to the PS5 will be a bit of a game changer for a lot of Portal owners.
bob Posted November 20 Posted November 20 Does that mean you can buy one without owning a PS5 and play PS5 games via the cloud? Would be pretty cool if it wasn't $160 a year.
Hero-of-Time Posted November 20 Posted November 20 On 11/19/2024 at 6:52 AM, Hero-of-Time said: Looks like Sony is sniffing around Kadokawa. Looks like their interest is legit.
Hero-of-Time Posted November 20 Posted November 20 8 hours ago, bob said: Does that mean you can buy one without owning a PS5 and play PS5 games via the cloud? Would be pretty cool if it wasn't $160 a year. Reading people's impressions of the update, that does seem to the case. I suppose it could be worth it depending on what games eventually come to the service. If it allows a person to play all their digital games then that would be great but if it's tied to what's only available on PS+ then it becomes a bit limited. I've still no interest in it be it's certainly a cool update.
Jimbob Posted November 21 Posted November 21 18 hours ago, Hero-of-Time said: Reading people's impressions of the update, that does seem to the case. I suppose it could be worth it depending on what games eventually come to the service. If it allows a person to play all their digital games then that would be great but if it's tied to what's only available on PS+ then it becomes a bit limited. I've still no interest in it be it's certainly a cool update. Seems that way. Mystic tested the Cloud features on a video the other day, was some input latency (but the Cloud streaming is in beta stage still, so to be expected). It's powering through now with Xbox now offering more Cloud gaming options for already owned games (50 at the moment). Maybe one of these days, you won't even need a PlayStation console, just a Portal (or a version of it) 1
Hero-of-Time Posted Saturday at 08:48 AM Posted Saturday at 08:48 AM As per tradition, the BF sales have started and so it was time for my yearly spending spree and pick up some games that I've been waiting to drop in price. Never played an SMT game before (3DS one has been sat on the shelf for years) and figured I would give the new one a whirl. It was only £15 at Smyths. Jurassic Park collection I've mainly bought for the Mega Drive and SNES versions of the game. I have fond memories of playing both as a kid. Helldivers II is one I've been interested in since it launched but never got around to playing it. With it being £20, as well as all the awards it won at the Golden Joystick, I figured I would give it a go. Sonic, Outlaws, Metaphor and Steller Blade were ones I knew would drop in price during this sale and was happy to wait for this to happen. Having played and loved Star Ocean First Departure R this year, I was more than happy to give the sequel a chance. Shame that the first game never got a physical release. This year has been nuts for releases. There are still games like DBZ, Silent Hill, Dead Rising, Lego Horizon Adventures and Warhammer 40K that I would like to buy and play but they have yet to be discounted. 1
Ike Posted Saturday at 05:19 PM Posted Saturday at 05:19 PM 8 hours ago, Hero-of-Time said: As per tradition, the BF sales have started and so it was time for my yearly spending spree and pick up some games that I've been waiting to drop in price. The PS5 version of Sonic Gens is £28 on Amazon. Shadow's story is more demanding so the PS5 version runs better.
Hero-of-Time Posted Saturday at 05:26 PM Posted Saturday at 05:26 PM 5 minutes ago, Ike said: The PS5 version of Sonic Gens is £28 on Amazon. Shadow's story is more demanding so the PS5 version runs better. If the PS4 version comes with a free PS5 version then I usually go with that. Two for one price and it comes in handy if I decide to do 2 playthroughs and go for a double platinum.
Ike Posted Saturday at 05:29 PM Posted Saturday at 05:29 PM 3 minutes ago, Hero-of-Time said: If the PS4 version comes with a free PS5 version then I usually go with that. Two for one price and it comes in handy if I decide to do 2 playthroughs and go for a double platinum. Ah, I should have zoomed in and seen that on the cover. Wasn't aware they still did that. I keep forgetting I bought Sand Land. Really should get round to it.
Hero-of-Time Posted Saturday at 05:31 PM Posted Saturday at 05:31 PM Just now, Ike said: Ah, I should have zoomed in and seen that on the cover. Wasn't aware they still did that. Yeah, most 3rd party games do. It's why I bought the PS4 version of Turtles as well and continue to purchase Yakuza games for my PS4.
Hero-of-Time Posted 11 hours ago Posted 11 hours ago (edited) Shu is leaving Sony/PlayStation. Quote SID: Happy to have you, we're going to do a lot of catching up. But I heard you had some news for us here today? SHU: Yes, I have an announcement to make. I'm leaving Sony Interactive Entertainment on January 15 2025… it's like announcing the launch date of a new game, [something] I haven't done for a long time [laughs]. SID: You've been with Sony Interactive for so long. What's guiding the decision and the timing? SHU: I've been with PlayStation from the beginning, and this is my 31st year with PlayStation. And when I hit 30 years, I was thinking, hmm, it may be about time for me to move on. You know, the company's been doing great. I love PS5, I love the games that are coming out on this platform. And we have new generations of management who I respect and admire. And I'm so excited for the future of PlayStation. So you know, PlayStation is in really good hands. I thought, okay, this is my time. Edited 11 hours ago by Hero-of-Time
Dcubed Posted 10 hours ago Author Posted 10 hours ago 34 minutes ago, Hero-of-Time said: Shu is leaving Sony/PlayStation. Damn. End of an era… Even though he’s kind of been in very much a background role these last few years, that’s still a big loss for PlayStation. Wonder where he’s going next?
Hero-of-Time Posted 9 hours ago Posted 9 hours ago 49 minutes ago, Dcubed said: Damn. End of an era… Even though he’s kind of been in very much a background role these last few years, that’s still a big loss for PlayStation. Wonder where he’s going next? He was the last remaining personality in the company that gave PlayStation a human touch. It's very much all dry and corporate now.
Hero-of-Time Posted 5 minutes ago Posted 5 minutes ago More chatter about the acquisition from Push Square. Quote One of the biggest stories in games right now is Sony's potential acquisition of Kadokawa Corporation. In a new report from Bloomberg, it's claimed that the two companies have been in talks about a buyout for years. According to the report, the pair has been back and forth on a deal for a long time, with the main issue relating to the extent of Sony's purchase. Kadokawa apparently wants Sony to purchase the entire company or not at all, while the tech giant has attempted to be more selective, only looking to secure its business in anime and video games. Now, though, it seems the corporations are closer than ever on getting a deal done. Kadokawa recently confirmed it had received a letter of intent from Sony to acquire the business. Kadokawa Corp is a huge force in Japanese entertainment, publishing a significant amount in the realms of comics, books, anime, and games. Notably, it's the parent company of FromSoftware, known for its highly acclaimed action RPGs like Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Apparently, the company has received interest from various potential buyers, such as Microsoft, Tencent, and Kakao. Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, a founding member who was against a takeover, is no longer in the picture, and the publicly-traded company is now better positioned for a buyout. Sounds like they are looking/wanting to sell. Microsoft wanting to snap them up doesn't surprise me at all.
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