EA is trying to sell itself to a streaming giant, according to reports

[mongeese]

TL;DR: A new report claims that Electronic Arts has been floating itself on a market that is churning through game publishers. It's talked to Amazon, Apple, and Disney about a potential acquisition, and even pursued a merger with NBCUniversal.

About $100 billion has been spent on game studios and publishers in the past year. Microsoft spent the majority of that picking up Activision Blizzard and Bethesda's parent company Zenimax, and Sony responsively grabbed Bungie and other smaller developers.

Now, the few publishers still on single-player mode are reconsidering their positions. Ubisoft expressed interest in being acquired in February, and Puck reports that EA has been approaching potential buyers and negotiating mergers.

It came quite close to merging with NBCUniversal, according to Puck's industry sources. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts considered handing control of NBCUniversal over to EA CEO Andrew Wilson in a deal that would've seen the two companies form an entertainment giant. But the negotiations eventually stalled when the two parties couldn't settle on a price.

At its current market cap of almost $37 billion, EA would be the second-largest publisher to ever be acquired, if that does happen. Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard deal is the largest acquisition of its kind so far, and it's currently being stalled while under scrutiny from the FTC.

EA has also been acquiring new studios and franchises. In the last 18 months, it's spent $5 billion to acquire two mobile game studios as well as Codemasters, the racing sim developer. But its classic IPs are now in trouble: EA's exclusive license to produce Star Wars titles will not be renewed in 2023, leaving the door open for other developers to create games for the franchise.

Perhaps in response, EA approached Disney in March to inquire about a "more meaningful relationship than licensing deals," Puck's sources say. Disney apparently didn't express much interest.

EA also confirmed this month that it would be ending its 25-year partnership with FIFA starting next year. It will release one more game in the FIFA franchise later this year before rebranding its football games as EA Sports FC in 2023.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/94675-ea-trying-sell-itself-streaming-giant-according-reports.html

 

[gabelogan1324]

Very interesting times for gaming - EA, one of the most hated companies for gamers want to be bought.
At least Star wars will be given new life from 2023.

 

[winjer]

A lot of games companies got a big boost to sales from people being stuck at home, during the pandemic. That means many got the value of their stock increased. And now they are trying to cash out, before the value of the stock goes down, back to normal.

 

[Crunch]

I don't care, who acquires EA, as long as they make EA release NHL for PC again.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

So I guess that making more money then small countries just isnt enough for papa EA now, eh?

A lot of games companies got a big boost to sales from people being stuck at home, during the pandemic. That means many got the value of their stock increased. And now they are trying to cash out, before the value of the stock goes down, back to normal.

Well maybe EA could have ridden that wave into a new renaissance, but that would require them to make good games and not throttle their studios into the ground. Like, imagine if BF2042 was actually good.

 

[Dimitriid]

Not gonna lie there's a bit of Schadenfreude of seeing the corporation that bought and subsequently killed 90s gaming for me (Black Isle, Bioware, Westwood, Bullfrog, Maxis,etc.) now basically panhandling itself to stay relevant while most companies are just walking around them without even stopping or looking at them.

 

[RudyBob]

It's already a steaming giant

 

[RudyBob]

Not gonna lie there's a bit of Schadenfreude of seeing the corporation that bought and subsequently killed 90s gaming for me (Black Isle, Bioware, Westwood, Bullfrog, Maxis,etc.) now basically panhandling itself to stay relevant while most companies are just walking around them without even stopping or looking at them.

I don't blame EA for buying I blame all those companies for selling

 

[Lounds]

Not gonna lie there's a bit of Schadenfreude of seeing the corporation that bought and subsequently killed 90s gaming for me (Black Isle, Bioware, Westwood, Bullfrog, Maxis,etc.) now basically panhandling itself to stay relevant while most companies are just walking around them without even stopping or looking at them.

It still annoys me that EA have slept on burnout. Such a great series of games.

 

[Nobina]

What about Sony?

 

[winjer]

Not gonna lie there's a bit of Schadenfreude of seeing the corporation that bought and subsequently killed 90s gaming for me (Black Isle, Bioware, Westwood, Bullfrog, Maxis,etc.) now basically panhandling itself to stay relevant while most companies are just walking around them without even stopping or looking at them.

At this point, the best thing would be for EA to be bought by a Private Equity firm.
That way all it's IPs would be sold to other companies, and we might get a chance of seeing new games from those beloved franchises.

 

[passwordistaco]

Not gonna lie there's a bit of Schadenfreude of seeing the corporation that bought and subsequently killed 90s gaming for me (Black Isle, Bioware, Westwood, Bullfrog, Maxis,etc.)

Black Isle was a victim of the mismanagement of Interplay.

EA+Comcast: a match made in hell. They'd have to get Satan himself to be CEO.

It would be sweet if EA keeps getting rejected, but they'll just lay off a few hundred, close more studios, and quadruple down on reskinned sports "sequels" and microtransactions.

 

[ZedRM]

I hope whoever buys EA does something good with the Command & Conquer series.

 

[Superconductor]

I hope whoever buys EA does something good with the Command & Conquer series.

Hope doesn't spring eternal on that one ... as much as I agree with the dream.

 

[Uncle Al]

Hopefully, anyone that chooses to buy them will re-energize them into a more creative and productive producer and STOP all the foolishness that has made them sooooooo hated by so many!

 

[FaTaL]

Name one gaming company anyone actually likes (THATS STILL IN BUSINESS)... none of this nostalgia BS

 

[Hexic]

I hope whoever buys EA does something good with the Command & Conquer series.

Old Westwood Studios.... Good memories.

 

[Pastuch]

Name one gaming company anyone actually likes (THATS STILL IN BUSINESS)... none of this nostalgia BS

Activision because Warzone is awesome.

 

[UNREAL333]

Name one gaming company anyone actually likes (THATS STILL IN BUSINESS)... none of this nostalgia BS

Square Enix

 

[passwordistaco]

Square Enix

The best thing Square Enix has done is sell TR, Deus Ex, Thief, etc. to a publisher that knows what to do with them.

 

[Gars]

Nostalgia?
what Ubi do with that?
answer this and you get the rest

 

[gamerk2]

Square Enix

Eh, they've had a lot more misses then hits over the past decade. They're at the point where they're running off nostalgia.

 

[George Keech]

I don't really get why. I mean did they get rid of FIFA because they want to sell up and leave? surely that license would be worth it?

 

[VaRmeNsI]

A lot of games companies got a big boost to sales from people being stuck at home, during the pandemic. That means many got the value of their stock increased. And now they are trying to cash out, before the value of the stock goes down, back to normal.

I dunno, mongeypox might send it back up again.

 

[DDG4005]

It's long-shot but I wonder if Microsoft would be interested in, or allowed, to purchase EA after acquiring Activision-Blizzard?