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EA Buys Bejeweled-Maker PopCap In Deal Worth Up To $1.3 Billion

Posted by Soulskill on from the don't-break-it dept.

donniebaseball23 writes "Weeks ago, rumors were that Electronic Arts had stepped up to the plate to buy mobile/casual gaming publisher PopCap, developer of titles such as Bejeweled and Plants vs Zombies. Today, EA has confirmed that it has purchased PopCap for a final sum of $650 million and $100 million in shares of EA common stock. There's also the possibility for up to $550 million in earn-outs for hitting 2013 financial milestones. That would bring the price to a whopping $1.3 billion. 'We picked EA because they have recast their culture around making great digital games,' said David Roberts, CEO of PopCap. 'By working with EA, we'll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience.'" More broadly, EA's plan for PopCap is: "don't break it."

4 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Good for Pop-Cap by geekoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

    they deserve it..bad for consumers. EA will break it.

    First they will restrict new games to origins.
    Second they will increase fee for distribution rights
    Third, they will over think it
    Fifth, managers from EA will flock to be tied to this success. Once they ahe enought time in, they will flee.

    That's how I'm calling it.

    OTOH, I can wait for Plants V. zombie madden 2012; Plants V. zombie madden 2013; Plants V. zombie madden 2014, and so on.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  2. Ohhhh can't wait! by failedlogic · · Score: 3, Insightful

    By this time next year.... "EA announces today the release of a new Plants* vs Zombies* game"

    * Plants and Zombies not included. Must purchase as a DLC.

  3. They will break it. by MrEricSir · · Score: 3, Insightful

    EA breaks everything they touch -- Westwood, Bullforg, Origin... even Maxis.

    Given EA's track record, PopCap doesn't stand a chance.

    --
    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
  4. Re:Can anyone else say "sell out" by rotide · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you ran a casual game company and someone offered to pay $1,300,000,000 for your company, would you not sell out? I would, in a heartbeat. Then I'd start another business and enjoy life without ever worrying about money again. (yes, I know it doesn't all go to one guy, and yes I also know that the heads of the company probably already didn't need more money, but the point still stands, over a BILLION dollars!)