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

With Sony Group's substantial investment and acquisition of 10% of its shares, Kadokawa Corporation has set an ambitious goal: publishing 9,000 original IP titles annually by fiscal year 2027. This represents a 50% increase from their 2023 output.

Kadokawa President Takeshi Natsuno, in an interview with Nikkei, outlined the plan. The company's medium-term strategy projects reaching 7,000 titles by fiscal year 2025, paving the way for the ultimate goal. This expansion will leverage Sony's global distribution network to broaden Kadokawa's international reach.

To support this ambitious growth, Kadokawa plans to significantly expand its editorial team, increasing staff numbers by 40% to approximately 1,000. This strategic hiring aims to maintain efficiency and prevent staff burnout.

Kadokawa's strategy includes a "media mix" approach, adapting successful IPs into anime, games, and other media. Natsuno emphasized the importance of diversity in creating major hits. This collaboration benefits Sony, which owns Crunchyroll, a streaming platform with over 15 million paid subscribers, providing a significant avenue for distributing Kadokawa's anime adaptations.

Kadokawa's extensive IP portfolio includes renowned titles like Bungo Stray Dogs, Oshi no Ko, The Rising of the Shield Hero, and numerous game IPs developed by studios under the Kadokawa umbrella. Sony's interest in expanding into multimedia entertainment, including live-action adaptations and international distribution, aligns perfectly with Kadokawa's growth strategy.