Sony Buys 2.5% Stake in Bandai Namco to Power Up Global Anime and Manga Expansion

Sony Buys 2.5% Stake in Bandai Namco (Image Credit: Press release)

Sony Group Corporation has officially grabbed a 2.5% stake in Bandai Namco Holdings in a strategic business deal worth around 68 billion yen (roughly $460 million).

By purchasing 16 million shares from existing shareholders, Sony’s clearly looking to deepen its footprint in the anime and manga scene—an area where both companies already have solid reputations.

While the announcement didn’t lay out every little detail, the focus of this alliance is crystal clear: growing the global fanbase for anime and manga-based IPs. According to the joint statement, the partnership is all about “creating new and emotionally moving experiences” and engaging fans in new ways—especially in the anime space, which continues to grow like wildfire.

Sony and Bandai Namco have teamed up before in games, music, and anime, but this move sets the stage for something much bigger. The plan includes co-developing IP, launching new merchandise and content, and diving into more immersive entertainment experiences. As per the statement, both companies also want to support creators through joint investments and new tech-based services tied to fan engagement.

This isn’t Sony’s first step into anime domination. It already owns Crunchyroll and Funimation, two of the biggest anime streaming platforms outside Japan. Now with this investment in Bandai Namco—the company behind hit anime games like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and also the publisher of FromSoftware’s Elden Ring and Dark Souls—Sony’s reach in the anime and gaming crossover is getting even stronger.

Bandai Namco’s EVP Nobuhiko Momoi shared his excitement about combining the strengths of both companies to "co-create the future" of entertainment. On Sony’s side, Chief Strategy Officer Toshimoto Mitomo emphasized their goal of delivering “Kando (emotion) to even more fans” while aligning with Sony’s long-term “Creative Entertainment Vision.”

Interestingly, this move follows Sony’s previous 14.09% stake acquisitions in FromSoftware and 10% in its parent company Kadokawa, further tightening Sony’s web of influence in both gaming and anime. Yet, FromSoftware remains a multi-platform developer for now, with upcoming titles still planned for non-PlayStation consoles, including the Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive The Duskbloods.