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

[DP ServBot]

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."

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[Oobgarm]

If that's their plan, then they really should have as much of a "hands off" approach as possible.

[zemmix]

Well at least this time they bought a company I don't care if they ruin.

[Graham Mitchell]

That monopoly ea logo would be appropriate here.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

With EA's growth, I wonder if one day they will release their own game system. They almost created one in the early 90s.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Plants Vs Zombies integration in Mass Effect 3.

[portnoyd]

This does not bode well.

[kupomogli]

What a waste of money.

[buzz_n64]

One word- SUCKERS!!!

[Kitsune Sniper]

One word- SUCKERS!!!

I couldn't agree more. The former owners are now set for life.

[Swamperon]

With EA's growth, I wonder if one day they will release their own game system. They almost created one in the early 90s.

Merge them with Apple and it would become a frightening/exciting possibility. Think of how many exclusives that machine would have.

[Superman]

Interesting.

EA has a plan...I guess.