Featured Image Credit: Sony, Square Enix
Topics: Square Enix, Sony, PlayStation 5, PlayStation
After Microsoft's power move of acquiring Bethesda last year, Sony have been relatively quiet about who they might be interested in snapping up. It must have been a kick in the teeth due to the huge IPs now owned by Microsoft - both Elder Scrolls and Fallout have had huge sales on Sony's consoles. And Bethesda's first new franchise in 25 years, Starfield, won't be released on the PlayStation 5. It's a blow for RPGs on Sony.
According to Eidos Montreal founder Stephane D'Astous, however, Sony might be in talks of acquiring their own huge RPG-centered studio. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, D'Astous spoke about the possibility of such a takeover.
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That studio, is apparently Square Enix Tokyo. D'Astous resigned from Eidos Montreal back in 2013 due to differences with Square Enix, who bought Eidos in 2009 but sold it earlier this year for $300 million.
In the interview, he says "there are rumours, obviously, that with all these activities of mergers and acquisitions, that Sony would really like to have Square Enix within their wheelhouse. I heard rumours that Sony said they're really interested in Square Enix Tokyo"
If Sony do acquire Square Enix Tokyo, they'll have some of the biggest RPG IPs under their belt: Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts to name a few. As Square Enix have sold Crystal Dynamics, though, Sony won't be acquiring the upcoming Tomb Raider game - which would have been a bit of a coup. Square Enix Europe has sold developers Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal, D'Astous former company, to Embracer Group (formerly THQ Nordic AB), owner of franchises like Singstar.
This news doesn't affect Sony's possible takeover, though. D'Astous says Sony are interested in Square Enix Tokyo, "but not the rest." It begs the question of whether or not the Japanese studio will work on Sony's future IPs, if the acquisition takes place that is.