How FromSoftware is Moving the World 🗡️👑 A Thorough Explanation for Elden Ring Fans. This Game Company is a Little Extraordinary 😳

Hello, this is Kujo-chan.
Today, I would like to write about what sparked my interest in unlisted companies.

A little while after I started investing, I learned about something called 'event-driven' trading. Since my strong sector was gaming, I would research software content and development companies, calculate backwards from release dates, and use a strategy of buying in when prices were low, anticipating which software would become popular, climb the sales rankings, or make headlines.

The company that sparked my interest in the gaming sector is FromSoftware.
This time, I will dig deep into it, mixing a fan's perspective with an investor's perspective, haha.

To conclude, the influence this game company (or more accurately, its representative, Hidetaka Miyazaki) has on the world is extraordinary.

1. A historic achievement: Only the second game creator ever to stand alongside former Prime Minister Kishida 🏆
In April 2023, Hidetaka Miyazaki, President and CEO of FromSoftware, was selected for the 'TIME 100,' the list of the world's most influential people announced by TIME magazine. That year, he and then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida were the only two people selected from Japan.

He is only the second game creator in history to be selected for this list, following Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto (Super Mario, Wii, etc.) in 2007. The introduction for Mr. Miyazaki's page was written by Neil Druckmann of Naughty Dog, the creator of 'The Last of Us,' and it began with, 'When I first played a game by Miyazaki, I felt miserable,' praising the essence of the 'learn by dying' experience unique to FromSoftware titles.

2. Elon Musk praises it as 'the most beautiful art in life,' even naming his daughter after its magic 🐦
Elon Musk is known as a huge Elden Ring fan. Here is the tweet he posted on May 23, 2022, along with his completion report.

"Elden Ring, experienced in its entirety, is the most beautiful art I have ever seen"
(Elden Ring, experienced in its entirety, is the most beautiful art I have ever seen)
Even more surprising is the anecdote that he named his daughter after the in-game sorcery 'Comet Azur' (though he reportedly misspelled it as 'Comet Azure'). It is also said that this world-class executive played the game, which takes 60 to 90 hours to complete, so thoroughly that he would lock himself in a room to play even during family gatherings.

3. FromSoftware's presence revealed in reports of Sony's 'acquisition' of Kadokawa 💰

This is the most intense part of today's discussion. On November 19, 2024, Reuters reported that 'Sony Group is in talks to acquire KADOKAWA.'

In fact, at this point, Sony already held 2% of KADOKAWA shares and had a relationship where it had also directly invested in KADOKAWA's subsidiary, FromSoftware. Following the report, KADOKAWA shares hit the daily limit high (up 23% from the previous day to 3,745 yen).

However, on December 19, what Sony announced was not an 'acquisition,' but a capital and business alliance where they would 'underwrite a third-party allotment of shares to become the largest shareholder (approximately 10%).' For investors who were expecting an 'acquisition' where shares would be bought from existing shareholders, this was a letdown. The next day, KADOKAWA shares hit the daily limit low, and the day after that, they fell another 15.6%, returning to the levels seen before the report.

The background to this chaotic drama was precisely the value of the FromSoftware IP. One of the reasons Sony approached KADOKAWA was the IP power held by its subsidiary, FromSoftware.

4. Elden Ring moved the financial results of multiple companies 📈
The economic impact of the Elden Ring IP is not limited to the developer, FromSoftware, alone.
Developer: FromSoftware (KADOKAWA subsidiary)
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform: All major hardware including PlayStation (contributing to Sony's gaming business)

The original version, released in 2022, surpassed 30 million units in cumulative global shipments as of April 2025. It won multiple Game of the Year awards, and in August 2026, the long-awaited Switch 2 version, 'Tarnished Edition,' was also released. It is clear that it has become a rare entity where a single IP can simultaneously have a positive impact on the performance of multiple companies: the developer, the publisher, and the platform holder.

5. Hollywood live-action film adaptation in 2028 🎬
And now, what FromSoftware fans are paying the most attention to is the live-action Elden Ring film co-produced by A24 and Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Director/Screenplay: Alex Garland ('Civil War', 'Ex Machina')
Production budget: Expected to significantly exceed $100 million
Filming period: Approximately 100 days, filming already completed
Release date: March 3, 2028 (North America, IMAX)
Cast: Talented actors such as Kit Connor, Ben Whishaw, Cailee Spaeny, and Nick Offerman have gathered

George R. R. Martin, author of 'Game of Thrones,' is also involved in the world-building
It is truly a 'serious' project with one of the largest budgets in A24 history.

6. The new title 'Duskbloods' will be published directly by Nintendo 🌙

FromSoftware's completely new title, 'The Duskbloods,' is being developed as an exclusive for the Switch 2. While the Elden Ring series has been sold by Bandai Namco, this time, the **'FromSoftware/Nintendo' combination** for distribution is attracting attention.

7. FromSoftware's 'cultural influence,' loved even by indie developers 🎮

FromSoftware's influence extends not only to the capital strategies of major corporations but also to the **'culture' of the entire gaming industry.** In the gaming industry, there are several companies that set special holidays to coincide with the release dates of highly anticipated titles, and companies like Pocketpair, known for 'Palworld,' and Mare, which operates Den Faminico Gamer, are known for having a holiday culture that aligns with the release of major titles. There is no doubt that FromSoftware's works are also something that many gamers 'want to take time off work to play.'

Conclusion: A single IP rewriting the industry map 😊
I think it is truly rare for a single IP like 'Elden Ring,' created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware, to have such a wide-ranging influence, from being selected for a prestigious TIME magazine list to the enthusiasm of global executives, the capital strategies of major media companies, and even a Hollywood film.

For me personally, learning about this company led me to focus on the 'greatness of unlisted companies' and the power and charm of individuals like presidents, rather than just the organization of a company.

I want to continue following the trends of this company, including the fantasy of whether Sony or Nintendo might make further moves regarding the distribution rights for Elden Ring in the future 😊

Furthermore, that famous activist has also entered the environment surrounding FromSoftware, making for an interesting situation right now. I will write about the continuation of this next time ✨️

Thank you for reading until the end 🙏