Electronic Arts is actively (and persistently) in search of a purchaser or one other firm prepared to merge with it, in accordance with Puck. The online game firm reportedly held talks with quite a lot of potential consumers or companions, together with Disney, Apple and Amazon. It’s unclear which had been focused on totally buying EA and which had been trying to merge, however in case of a merger, Puck mentioned EA is searching for a deal that might permit Andrew Wilson to stay chief government of the mixed firm.
EA approached Disney in March in an try and forge “a extra significant relationship” that might transcend licensing offers, in accordance with the supply. However, Disney determined to not push ahead, maybe as a result of it is at the moment targeted on its nascent streaming service. The publication mentioned the concept of a merger between EA and ESPN, which Disney partly owns, is being floated round within the trade.
Among all of the potential companions, nonetheless, it was maybe Comcast who bought the closest to a deal. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts reportedly approached Wilson with a proposal to merge NBCUniversal with EA. Under the deal, Roberts would take majority management of the merged firm, however Wilson would stay chief government. The individuals concerned did not agree over the worth of the sale and the construction of the mixed entity, although, and the settlement fell via inside the final month.
EA stays an organization of its personal for now, however Puck mentioned it has grow to be extra emboldened in its quest to discover a sale or a merger since Microsoft introduced that it is snapping up Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, so that may not be be the case for lengthy. It’s price noting that Sony additionally revealed that it is shopping for Destiny studio Bungie for $3.6 billion shortly after Microsoft introduced the acquisition.
EA spokesperson John Reseburg informed Puck that the corporate wouldn’t remark “on rumors and hypothesis referring to [mergers and acquisitions].” Reseburg added: “We are proud to be working from a place of power and progress, with a portfolio of wonderful video games, constructed round highly effective IP, made by extremely gifted groups, and a community of greater than half a billion gamers. We see a really shiny future forward.”