Sony bought a chunk of Bandai Namco to boost anime fan community engagement

Sony has entered into a strategic business alliance with Bandai Namco Holdings, acquiring around 2.5% of the Japanese media conglomerate and gaming publisher for 68 billion yen ($465 million). The goal is to expand the fan community for intellectual property (IP) such as anime and manga worldwide and strengthen engagement, particularly in the rapidly growing anime field. The companies have a history of collaboration in areas like games, anime, and music, and they plan to extend this partnership into a broader range of areas. This includes the production and distribution of anime and other video content, as well as merchandising. They also aim to develop and promote new IP in the anime and manga sectors. The deal aligns with Sony's recent focus on maximizing the value of its content across gaming and entertainment ecosystems. Turning video game IP into films and series has proven to be highly lucrative, and the companies plan to provide "the optimal products and services at the optimal timing in the optimal regions" to meet market demand.