{"id":2007851,"date":"2026-06-24T09:12:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T06:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2007851"},"modified":"2026-06-24T09:12:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T06:12:03","slug":"kadokawa-should-be-making-more-money-from-elden-ring-activist-investor-says-as-ceo-survives-shareholder-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2007851","title":{"rendered":"Kadokawa Should Be Making More Money From Elden Ring, Activist Investor Says as CEO Survives Shareholder Vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-862658659 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The boss of Japanese company Kadokawa has survived a shareholder vote on his future amid increasing pressure from an activist investor who believes the company has failed to capitalize on Elden Ring\u2019s enormous success.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/transactional\/ceo-kadokawa-japans-elden-ring-powerhouse-survives-shareholder-vote-2026-06-24\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reuters<\/a> reported on the result of a showdown between Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno and Hong Kong-based Oasis Management, which is now the company\u2019s largest shareholder with a 13.76% stake, during a meeting of shareholders. While Natsuno has survived for now, <a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/following-calls-to-oust-kadokawas-ceo-and-reform-fromsoftware-game-publishing-activist-investor-oasis-raises-stake-to-15-25-with-plans-to-buy-more-shares\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Automaton<\/a> reported that Oasis has just upped its stake to 15.25%, with plans to increase it further.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Elden Ring is from legendary video game developer FromSoftware, which is owned by Kadokawa. It has sold an astonishing 30 million copies \u2014 a figure that is sure to rise with the release of Tarnished Edition in August. Elden Ring launched in 2022, and since then has released expansion Shadow of the Erdtree (2024) and multiplayer spinoff, Elden Ring Nightreign (2025), but Oasis wants more financial return from the franchise.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Every IGN FromSoftware Game Review<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1997\/10\/23\/armored-core&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Adam Douglas&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;October 25, 1997&lt;br&gt;&quot;With solid graphics and control, and an almost obsessive attention to detail as far as customizing the mechs go, it&apos;s hard not to love Armored Core. Fans of anime will love barreling around in the Shoji Kawamori-designed mechs, while action lovers will enjoy the short, but hard-hitting, missions. Either way, you can&apos;t lose.&quot;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 50 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1998\/10\/20\/armored-core-project-phantasma&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Craig Harris&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;October 19, 1998&lt;br&gt;&quot;To be quite honest, I never, ever played the original Armored Core. That said, I feel Armored Core Project Phantasma is a decent mission-based action title, but it isn&apos;t for fans who like jump-in-and-play-style games. Project Phantasma requires a little bit of time to sit down and manage how you&apos;re going to build and upgrade your robot (I&apos;m trying my darndest to not call them &quot; mechs&quot;), and you can&apos;t just find the best legs, arms, and bodies money can buy - each needs the power to run it.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nMissions themselves range from stupidly easy to incredibly hard, and they jump around in difficulty throughout the game. The game&apos;s a challenge, I&apos;ll certainly admit that. Controlling your robot is pretty simple, except when your fingers slip off the shoulder buttons and accidentally cause the camera to rise or fall in the middle of the action.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nArmored Core Project Phantasma is not a high-key PlayStation title, but it&apos;s a fun action title in the same vein as a slower-paced version of Virtual On, especially in two-player mode.&quot;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1999\/09\/08\/echo-night&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Max Everingham&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;September 7, 1999&lt;br&gt;&quot;Echo Night is a throwback to a lower-bit era when developers were more interested in how a game plays than how it looks. Rather than try and wow their audiences with graphical wizardry (which, in any case, wasn&apos;t technically possible), they attempted to deliver the kind of gaming experience that hooks the player, then lures them into the onscreen action. Despite its many deficiencies, this is exactly the effect Echo night achieves.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nAs I played through the game, there were moments of real tension and excitement as I tried to attain certain objectives and it was always scary (but oddly amusing) to try and escape from the crazy floating child-doll thingy. The gaming experience is where Echo Night shines through. No-one will remember the graphics, and you might even forget the eerie soundtrack, but it&apos;ll be a while before you get that child out of your head. When you next fire up one of those all-style-no-substance crowd-pleasing games, a tear will form in your eye as you think of Echo Night. Look past the clunky game engine for a moment and soak up the ambiance created onboard the good ship Orpheus. Go on, you could do worse.&quot;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2000\/03\/28\/armored-core-master-of-arena&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Jeremy Conrad&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;March 27, 2000&lt;br&gt;Overall, Armored Core: Master of Arena is a good game. Definitely a better &quot; sequel&quot; than Project Phantasma was. Even with the graphics showing their age, the gameplay and concept behind the game is still fun and addicting. It&apos;s games with cool ideas such as Armored Core (and Carnage Heart) that will be remembered as PlayStation hands the torch over to PS2.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIf you are a fan of Armored Core (or mecha games in general), you will probably find something here to enjoy. Even if you have never played Armored Core before, this game has enough to get you into it. And to get you excited about the PlayStation 2 version, Armored Core 2.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2000\/10\/25\/eternal-ring&quot;&gt;Reviewed by David Smith&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;October 24, 2000&lt;br&gt;I have a hard time mustering a tremendous degree of excitement for Eternal Ring, because despite some of its more interesting ideas and scenes, it still tells a fairly pedestrian story through fairly pedestrian action, like the King&apos;s Field adventures that came before it. It&apos;s far better than they were, but they were some of the worst RPGs of the 32-bit age, so that&apos;s not saying a great deal. The game&apos;s high points are relatively small, lone spikes.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIf you&apos;re starving for an RPG on PlayStation 2, though (or, just to cover all the bases, if you could actually stand King&apos;s Field), I would recommend this over Orphen at the very least, and perhaps Ever Grace as well, depending on how either From Software offering suits your particular taste. Most gamers would probably be best served by sticking to the PlayStation or Dreamcast for their RPG fix, though, until deeper, more polished games ride the second wave of PS2 software in.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Part of Oasis\u2019 complaint about Kadokawa and indeed Elden Ring is that it does not publish the game itself globally. While FromSoftware self-publishes Elden Ring in Japan, Bandai Namco publishes the game internationally, reducing profit. Oasis wants Kadokawa to self-publish its games everywhere.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Meanwhile, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/sony-becomes-majority-shareholder-in-fromsoftware-parent-kadokawa-no-full-takeover-for-now\">Sony\u2019s high-profile investment in Kadokawa<\/a> amounted to just a 10% stake and little has come of it.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cFromSoftware is Kadokawa\u2019s crown-jewel asset: a globally recognized studio with a loyal international fanbase and a proven ability to create blockbuster titles such as Elden Ring,\u201d Oasis has said. \u201cYet Kadokawa continues to leave a meaningful share of the economics from these titles with third-party publishing partners, creating a significant and ongoing loss of value for all of Kadokawa\u2019s stakeholders.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Oasis has insisted it isn\u2019t trying to force a sale of FromSoftware (there have been all sorts of rumors about various video game companies buying it over the years). Oasis instead believes FromSoftware should be the &#8220;central driver&#8221; of Kadokawa\u2019s long-term growth.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cOur point is that FromSoftware must be managed with the ambition, investment, and strategic focus that an asset of its quality deserves,\u201d Oasis said. \u201cIts employees, creators, and fans deserve ownership and leadership that are fully committed to helping the studio realize its extraordinary global potential.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Earlier this month, celebrated FromSoftware director and architect of its hit games, Hidetaka Miyazaki, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/elden-ring-director-insists-fromsoftware-is-free-to-make-the-games-it-wants-to-teases-unannounced-titles\">commented on the shareholder pressure Kadokawa is under<\/a>. Reassuring fans, he insisted that FromSoftware can still \u201cfreely make the kind of games we want to make without excessive interference.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">FromSoftware has Elden Ring Tarnished Edition as well as new action title The Duskbloods to look forward to later this year. But fans are wondering what&#8217;s next from the developer. Could Elden Ring 2 be on the cards? In December 2024, Miyazaki said <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/elden-ring-2-not-being-considered-at-fromsoftware-hidetaka-miyazaki-says\">the developer was not considering making Elden Ring 2<\/a>, but wouldn&#8217;t shut down the possibility in the future. If not, there is an <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/elden-ring\">Elden Ring movie<\/a> in the works.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The boss of Japanese company Kadokawa has survived a shareholder vote on his future amid increasing pressure from an activist investor who believes the company has failed to capitalize on Elden Ring\u2019s enormous success.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/transactional\/ceo-kadokawa-japans-elden-ring-powerhouse-survives-shareholder-vote-2026-06-24\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reuters<\/a> reported on the result of a showdown between Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno and Hong Kong-based Oasis Management, which is now the company\u2019s largest shareholder with a 13.76% stake, during a meeting of shareholders. While Natsuno has survived for now, <a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/following-calls-to-oust-kadokawas-ceo-and-reform-fromsoftware-game-publishing-activist-investor-oasis-raises-stake-to-15-25-with-plans-to-buy-more-shares\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Automaton<\/a> reported that Oasis has just upped its stake to 15.25%, with plans to increase it further.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Elden Ring is from legendary video game developer FromSoftware, which is owned by Kadokawa. It has sold an astonishing 30 million copies \u2014 a figure that is sure to rise with the release of Tarnished Edition in August. Elden Ring launched in 2022, and since then has released expansion Shadow of the Erdtree (2024) and multiplayer spinoff, Elden Ring Nightreign (2025), but Oasis wants more financial return from the franchise.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Every IGN FromSoftware Game Review<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1997\/10\/23\/armored-core&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Adam Douglas&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;October 25, 1997&lt;br&gt;&quot;With solid graphics and control, and an almost obsessive attention to detail as far as customizing the mechs go, it&apos;s hard not to love Armored Core. Fans of anime will love barreling around in the Shoji Kawamori-designed mechs, while action lovers will enjoy the short, but hard-hitting, missions. Either way, you can&apos;t lose.&quot;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 50 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1998\/10\/20\/armored-core-project-phantasma&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Craig Harris&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;October 19, 1998&lt;br&gt;&quot;To be quite honest, I never, ever played the original Armored Core. That said, I feel Armored Core Project Phantasma is a decent mission-based action title, but it isn&apos;t for fans who like jump-in-and-play-style games. Project Phantasma requires a little bit of time to sit down and manage how you&apos;re going to build and upgrade your robot (I&apos;m trying my darndest to not call them &quot; mechs&quot;), and you can&apos;t just find the best legs, arms, and bodies money can buy - each needs the power to run it.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nMissions themselves range from stupidly easy to incredibly hard, and they jump around in difficulty throughout the game. The game&apos;s a challenge, I&apos;ll certainly admit that. Controlling your robot is pretty simple, except when your fingers slip off the shoulder buttons and accidentally cause the camera to rise or fall in the middle of the action.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nArmored Core Project Phantasma is not a high-key PlayStation title, but it&apos;s a fun action title in the same vein as a slower-paced version of Virtual On, especially in two-player mode.&quot;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1999\/09\/08\/echo-night&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Max Everingham&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;September 7, 1999&lt;br&gt;&quot;Echo Night is a throwback to a lower-bit era when developers were more interested in how a game plays than how it looks. Rather than try and wow their audiences with graphical wizardry (which, in any case, wasn&apos;t technically possible), they attempted to deliver the kind of gaming experience that hooks the player, then lures them into the onscreen action. Despite its many deficiencies, this is exactly the effect Echo night achieves.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nAs I played through the game, there were moments of real tension and excitement as I tried to attain certain objectives and it was always scary (but oddly amusing) to try and escape from the crazy floating child-doll thingy. The gaming experience is where Echo Night shines through. No-one will remember the graphics, and you might even forget the eerie soundtrack, but it&apos;ll be a while before you get that child out of your head. When you next fire up one of those all-style-no-substance crowd-pleasing games, a tear will form in your eye as you think of Echo Night. Look past the clunky game engine for a moment and soak up the ambiance created onboard the good ship Orpheus. Go on, you could do worse.&quot;\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2000\/03\/28\/armored-core-master-of-arena&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Jeremy Conrad&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;March 27, 2000&lt;br&gt;Overall, Armored Core: Master of Arena is a good game. Definitely a better &quot; sequel&quot; than Project Phantasma was. Even with the graphics showing their age, the gameplay and concept behind the game is still fun and addicting. It&apos;s games with cool ideas such as Armored Core (and Carnage Heart) that will be remembered as PlayStation hands the torch over to PS2.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIf you are a fan of Armored Core (or mecha games in general), you will probably find something here to enjoy. Even if you have never played Armored Core before, this game has enough to get you into it. And to get you excited about the PlayStation 2 version, Armored Core 2.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2000\/10\/25\/eternal-ring&quot;&gt;Reviewed by David Smith&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;October 24, 2000&lt;br&gt;I have a hard time mustering a tremendous degree of excitement for Eternal Ring, because despite some of its more interesting ideas and scenes, it still tells a fairly pedestrian story through fairly pedestrian action, like the King&apos;s Field adventures that came before it. It&apos;s far better than they were, but they were some of the worst RPGs of the 32-bit age, so that&apos;s not saying a great deal. The game&apos;s high points are relatively small, lone spikes.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIf you&apos;re starving for an RPG on PlayStation 2, though (or, just to cover all the bases, if you could actually stand King&apos;s Field), I would recommend this over Orphen at the very least, and perhaps Ever Grace as well, depending on how either From Software offering suits your particular taste. Most gamers would probably be best served by sticking to the PlayStation or Dreamcast for their RPG fix, though, until deeper, more polished games ride the second wave of PS2 software in.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Part of Oasis\u2019 complaint about Kadokawa and indeed Elden Ring is that it does not publish the game itself globally. While FromSoftware self-publishes Elden Ring in Japan, Bandai Namco publishes the game internationally, reducing profit. Oasis wants Kadokawa to self-publish its games everywhere.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Meanwhile, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/sony-becomes-majority-shareholder-in-fromsoftware-parent-kadokawa-no-full-takeover-for-now\">Sony\u2019s high-profile investment in Kadokawa<\/a> amounted to just a 10% stake and little has come of it.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cFromSoftware is Kadokawa\u2019s crown-jewel asset: a globally recognized studio with a loyal international fanbase and a proven ability to create blockbuster titles such as Elden Ring,\u201d Oasis has said. \u201cYet Kadokawa continues to leave a meaningful share of the economics from these titles with third-party publishing partners, creating a significant and ongoing loss of value for all of Kadokawa\u2019s stakeholders.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Oasis has insisted it isn\u2019t trying to force a sale of FromSoftware (there have been all sorts of rumors about various video game companies buying it over the years). Oasis instead believes FromSoftware should be the &#8220;central driver&#8221; of Kadokawa\u2019s long-term growth.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cOur point is that FromSoftware must be managed with the ambition, investment, and strategic focus that an asset of its quality deserves,\u201d Oasis said. \u201cIts employees, creators, and fans deserve ownership and leadership that are fully committed to helping the studio realize its extraordinary global potential.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Earlier this month, celebrated FromSoftware director and architect of its hit games, Hidetaka Miyazaki, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/elden-ring-director-insists-fromsoftware-is-free-to-make-the-games-it-wants-to-teases-unannounced-titles\">commented on the shareholder pressure Kadokawa is under<\/a>. Reassuring fans, he insisted that FromSoftware can still \u201cfreely make the kind of games we want to make without excessive interference.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">FromSoftware has Elden Ring Tarnished Edition as well as new action title The Duskbloods to look forward to later this year. But fans are wondering what&#8217;s next from the developer. Could Elden Ring 2 be on the cards? In December 2024, Miyazaki said <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/elden-ring-2-not-being-considered-at-fromsoftware-hidetaka-miyazaki-says\">the developer was not considering making Elden Ring 2<\/a>, but wouldn&#8217;t shut down the possibility in the future. If not, there is an <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/movies\/elden-ring\">Elden Ring movie<\/a> in the works.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The boss of Japanese company Kadokawa has survived a shareholder vote on his future amid increasing pressure from an activist investor who believes the company has failed to capitalize on Elden Ring\u2019s enormous success. Reuters reported on the result of a showdown between Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno and Hong Kong-based Oasis Management, which is now [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-2007851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2007851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2007851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2007851\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2007851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2007851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2007851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}