Whats the lastest for US based video game giant, Electronic Arts (EA)? According to rumors, they are in the works of purchasing the Seattle-based PopCap Games. Nothing has been officiall announced yet, but according to a few different reports, they are in the final stages of the purchase. The asking price for this video game company, who brought us such games as Plants Vs Zombies, and Bejeweled; a cool $1 billion. These games are featured on PlayStation Network, Xbox 360, PC and a ton of different mobile platforms. That would be a huge acquisition for EA, which has a market capitalization of about $7.2 billion. If you remember, EA snagged PopCaps rival in the gaming industry, Playfish back in 2009 for a sum of $400 million.
EA is one of the worlds largest video game publishers, putting out great game series’ such as The Sims, Battlefield, and EA sports games. This whole proposed acquisition has raised some questions with the gaming comminuty on if this means that the simple PopCap games will now have that “Big Business” mindset. PopCap games have been known to be more laid back and relaxed. Though some believe this would be best for both parties involved, plus the gaming community. EA is not the first gaming company rumored to have offered a deal to PopCap. Zynga, the game maker responsible for the Facebook-based games such as Farmville, has also been rumored of looking into the casual gaming publisher.
We will see who ends up with ownership of PopCap games, or if it will stay under current management.