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List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts

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Electronic Arts logo
EA headquarters inRedwood City,California

Electronic Artsis an American company that is adeveloper,marketer,publisher,and distributor ofvideo games,that was founded in 1982. Products of the company includeEA Sportsfranchises,Sims,and other titles on bothhandheldand homegaming consoles.[1]

Electronic Arts often acquires new companies to expand or add to new product lines. For instance, EAchairmanandchief executive officerLarry Probstsaid after the acquisition ofJAMDAT Mobilethat "we intend to build a leading global position in the [...] business of providing games on mobile phones".[2]EA followed through with this later, making the company intoEA Mobile,and allowing people to purchase and download content produced by them directly onto their phones.[1]After the acquisition ofOrigin Systems,some staff in that company claimed that Electronic Arts initially gave them more resources, but allowed little latitude if employees made a mistake, and in some cases no longer trusted them, and even worked against them.[3][4]EA has shut down entire companies or the studios thereof after acquiring them, including the studioDICE Canada,Origin Systems,EA Chicago (NuFX), andPandemic Studios.[5][6][7][8]Gaming bloggerBrian Crecentehas said that fears that EA doesn't care about the quality of their products after they are acquired are debatable.[9]

As of April 2021, Electronic Arts' largest acquisition is the purchase ofGlu Mobile,for $2.4 billion. Of the 39 companies acquired by EA, 20 are based in the U.S., five in the United Kingdom, six inContinental Europe,and eight elsewhere. The majority of these companies and studios are nowdefunct,with some having been merged into other entities. Of the six companies which EA purchased a stake in, two remaining companies are based in the U.S., while three other U.S. companies are defunct. After acquiring a 19.9% stake in France-basedUbisoftin 2004, EA sold a remaining 14.8% stake in it in 2010.[10][11]

Each acquisition listed is for the entire company, unless otherwise noted. Theacquisitiondate listed is the date of the agreement betweenElectronic Arts(EA) and the subject of the acquisition. Unless otherwise noted, the value of each acquisition is listed in U.S. dollars, because EA is headquartered in the U.S. If the value of the acquisition is not listed, then it is undisclosed. If the EA service that is derived from the acquired company is known, then it is also listed. According to data from Pitch Book via VentureBeat, the company has spent about $2.9 Billion on its 10 biggest acquisitions since 1992.[12]

Key

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General
Defunct
Merged into surviving group
* Electronic Arts sold stake

Acquisitions

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Total:47 companies

Stakes

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Date Company Business Country Value References
January 25, 1995 Visual Concepts Entertainment[note 6] Video game developer USA [76]
May 9, 1995 NovaLogic[note 7] Video game developerandpublisher USA [77]
March 11, 1997 Accolade[note 8] Video game developerandpublisher USA [78][79]
April 3, 1997 Mpath Interactive[note 9] Computer gameandonlinecompany USA [80][81]
August 4, 1998 Kodiak Interactive Software Studios, Inc.†[note 10] Video game developer USA [82][83]
December 24, 2004 Ubisoft*[note 11] Video game developerandpublisher FRA 68.9 million euros [10][11][84]

Notes

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  1. ^While Maxis Emeryville was closed, other Maxis groups were consolidated into existing studios of EA. New studios using the brand name began opening in 2019.
  2. ^Staff who choose to remain were absorbed into EA Los Angeles.
  3. ^DICE Ontario was closed down; the Stockholm studio persists under the "EA DICE" label.
  4. ^Includes $650 million in cash and the issuing of $100 million in EAcommon stockto certain shareholders of PopCap Games. Does not include additional cash possibly received based onearnings before interest and taxesmilestones through December 2013.
  5. ^Includes $151 million in cash and $164 million in equity.
  6. ^EA purchased a minority stake, later sold to Take 2 Interactive.
  7. ^EA purchased a minority stake, yet there is no mention of it on EA's Investor Page. Later sold toTHQ Nordicin 2016
  8. ^EA purchased a minority stake. Later purchased byInfogrames.
  9. ^EA purchased a minority stake. On June 18, 2001, it was acquired byGameSpyand MPlayer was merged withGameSpy Arcade.
  10. ^EA purchased a minority stake, but it later merged withAcclaim Entertainment.
  11. ^EA initially purchased a 19.9% stake then-valued at 68.9 million euros, but then sold its remaining stake in July 2010 for 122 millionU.S. dollars(94 millioneuros).

References

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  1. ^ab"Electronic Arts, Inc.: Full Description".Reuters.Archived fromthe originalon October 30, 2007.Retrieved2008-04-13.
  2. ^ab"EA to Acquire JAMDAT Mobile Inc. -- the Leader in North American Mobile Interactive Entertainment; Accelerates EA's Objective of Global Expansion in Mobile".Jamdat Mobile Inc.2005-12-08. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-09.Retrieved2008-04-13.
  3. ^"The Conquest of Origin pg. 2".Escapist. 2005-10-11.Retrieved2008-05-03.
  4. ^"The Conquest of Origin pg. 3".Escapist. 2005-10-11.Retrieved2008-05-03.
  5. ^Brendan Sinclair (2006-10-06)."EA shuts down DICE Canada".Gamespot.Retrieved2008-05-03.
  6. ^"EA to Shut Down Origin Systems".Gamepro. 2004-02-25. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-02-10.Retrieved2008-05-03.
  7. ^"EA closes Pandemic Studios unit".CNET.2009-11-18.Retrieved2010-08-05.
  8. ^ab"EA Confirms EA Chicago is Closing".Kotaku.2007-11-06. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-03-04.Retrieved2010-08-20.
  9. ^Caroline McCarthy (2007-10-11)."Electronic Arts pays $860 million for BioWare, Pandemic Studios".CNET.Retrieved2008-05-03.
  10. ^abBusiness Wire (2004-12-24)."EA Invests in Ubisoft; Acquires Approximately 19.9 Percent Equity in Global Game Company".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  11. ^abEcorcheville, Ambroise; Angeline Benoit."UPDATE: Electronic Arts Sells Ubisoft Shares, Ends 6-Year Link".Automated Trader. Dow Jones Newswires. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-03-17.Retrieved2010-08-05.
  12. ^"Electronic Arts' biggest acquisitions: The good, the so-so, and the duds".20 December 2017.
  13. ^Ian Chadwick (1988). "Ian's Quest".ST-Log(20): 47.
  14. ^Morrissey, James (2005-03-14)."Artist Showcase: Michael Reichmann".The Nature, Wildlife and Pet Photography Forum.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-07-07.Retrieved2016-07-07.
  15. ^Software Industry Report (1997-06-04)."Electronic Arts; Distinctive Software Inc".AllBusiness.Retrieved2008-04-13.
  16. ^PR Newswire (1992-09-10)."Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire Origin Systems".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  17. ^Business Wire (1994-11-14)."Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Spain; forms third subsidiary in continental Europe".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  18. ^"Electronic Arts to acquire leading European software developer, Bullfrog Productions Ltd".The Free Library.Business Wire.January 6, 1995. Archived fromthe originalon March 15, 2016.RetrievedJuly 16,2019.
  19. ^"Bullfrog Productions".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-05-28.Retrieved2010-08-20.
  20. ^Business Wire (1995-03-08)."Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Germany, Kingsoft GmbH".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  21. ^Business Wire (1996-01-29)."Electronic Arts Acquires Software Developer Manley & Associates".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  22. ^Business Wire (1997-06-04)."Electronic Arts and Maxis Inc. announce definitive agreement to merge; transaction valued at approximately $125 million".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  23. ^Kain, Erik (2015-03-04)."'SimCity' Developer Shut Down By EA ".Forbes.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  24. ^Sarkar, Samit (March 4, 2015)."EA shuts down Maxis Emeryville, studio behind SimCity".Polygon.RetrievedMarch 4,2015.
  25. ^Business Wire (1998-04-02)."Electronic Arts Acquires Software Developer Tiburon Entertainment; Leading Sports Game Developer Becomes Wholly-Owned Subsidiary".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  26. ^Business Wire (1998-04-08)."Electronic Arts Acquires Vision Software PTY Ltd.; EA Moves Into Continent of Africa".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  27. ^Business Wire (1998-07-28)."Electronic Arts Acquires ABC Software to Establish Direct Sales Organizations in Switzerland and Austria".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  28. ^Business Wire (1998-08-17)."Electronic Arts to Buy Westwood Studios From Virgin Interactive Entertainment; EA to Acquire Creators of Command & Conquer in a Cash Transaction Valued at $122.5 Million".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  29. ^"Westwood Studios, Inc".MobyGames.Retrieved2010-08-20.
  30. ^Business Wire (1998-09-08)."Electronic Arts Announces Acquisition of PlayNation; Online Entertainment Developer Adds to EA's Internet Content".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  31. ^PR Newswire (1999-11-22)."Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire News Corp. Online Game Unit, Kesmai".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  32. ^PR Newswire (2000-02-24)."Electronic Arts Acquires DreamWorks Interactive From Microsoft And DreamWorks SKG".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  33. ^Handrahan, Matthew (2013-06-14)."EA confirms dissolution of Danger Close".Videogames.biz.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  34. ^Business Wire (2001-02-28)."EA Acquires Leading Games Destination pogo; pogo 's Popular Family Games Site Complements EA 's Rich Content Games".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  35. ^Business Wire (2002-06-11)."EA to Acquire Black Box Games Development Studio; Creators of Top-Selling Sports and Racing Games to Join EA".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  36. ^"EA closing Vancouver studios PopCap and Quicklime in latest round of layoffs: report".Financial Post.2013-04-25.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  37. ^ab"Electronic Arts closing PopCap and Quicklime in latest layoffs to hit Vancouver's gaming sector".Vancouver Sun.2013-04-25.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  38. ^Electronic Arts(2003-10-16)."UK Developer Studio 33 Joins EA Worldwide Studios".Yahoo! Finance.Market Wire.Archived fromthe originalon 2004-04-16.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  39. ^Electronic Arts (2004-02-13)."NuFX Joins EA Worldwide Studios; Long-Time Development Partner on NBA STREET and EA SPORTS Fight Night 2004 Acquired by EA".Business Wire.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  40. ^Business Wire (2004-07-28)."EA to Acquire Criterion Software Group from CANON EUROPE; EA Acquires UK Creator of Burnout 3 and RenderWare".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  41. ^"EA pays $48 million for Criterion".
  42. ^Gamespot (2009-07-27)."Electronic Arts acquires Hypnotix".Gamespot.Retrieved2009-05-01.
  43. ^"EA to Acquire Mythic Entertainment".Mythic Entertainment.2006-06-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-07-02.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  44. ^Sinclair, Brendan (2014-05-29)."Mythic shut down".Videogames.biz.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  45. ^Business Wire (2006-08-23)."EA Acquires Phenomic Game Development; Acclaimed Creators of Real Time Strategy Franchises Become EA's Newest Studio in Europe".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  46. ^Handrahan, Matthew (2013-07-12)."EA Phenomic closed".Videogames.biz.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  47. ^"Digital Illusions CE".TeamXbox.2006-10-02. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-05-11.Retrieved2008-04-13.
  48. ^Business Wire (2006-11-30)."Headgate Studios Team Joins EA".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  49. ^"EA Acquires Singshot Media".Electronic Arts. Business Wire. 2007-02-12.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  50. ^"Press Releases".Electronic Arts.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-07-23.Retrieved2008-04-13.
  51. ^"EA Acquires Super Computer International".Electronic Arts.2007-10-05. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-11-27.Retrieved2009-08-04.
  52. ^Letzing, John (2007-10-11)."Electronic Arts to buy game maker VG Holding".MarketWatch.Retrieved2008-04-13.
  53. ^"EA to Acquire Assets of Hands-On Mobile Korea".Electronic Arts.Business Wire. 2008-05-21.Retrieved2015-03-15.[permanent dead link]
  54. ^"EA Acquires ThreeSF".Electronic Arts. Business Wire. 2008-06-03.Retrieved2015-03-15.
  55. ^"EA Acquires Korean Online Game Developer J2M".Electronic Arts. Business Wire. 2008-12-02.Retrieved2009-08-04.
  56. ^"EA Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2010 Results".Electronic Arts.2009-08-04.Retrieved2009-08-04.
  57. ^"Q2 Fiscal Year 2010 Results"(PDF).
  58. ^Johnson, Bobbie (2009-11-09)."Playfish sells to Electronic Arts in deal worth up to $400m".The Guardian.Retrieved2010-08-30.
  59. ^Sinclair, Brendan (2013-04-15)."EA shutting down Playfish games".Videogames.biz.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  60. ^"EA buys Angry Birds publisher Chillingo".Los Angeles Times.2010-10-20.Retrieved2010-11-01.
  61. ^"Chillingo Limited".Companies House.Retrieved2024-03-06.
  62. ^"Electronic Arts Purchases MPP developer and Firemint".Game Beats. 2011-05-03.Retrieved2011-05-11.
  63. ^"Electronic Arts buys Aussie game maker Firemint".New Zealand Herald.2011-05-04.Retrieved2011-07-12.
  64. ^"EA to Acquire PopCap Games".Business Wire.2011-07-12.Retrieved2011-07-12.
  65. ^"96 jobs lost as PopCap closes Dublin office".The Daily Business Post. 2012-12-24.Retrieved2015-03-04.
  66. ^"Electronic Arts Buys Purchases Charlottetown Video Game Developer".The Guardian.2011-08-11.Retrieved2021-03-08.
  67. ^"Electronic Arts Buys Online Gaming Studio ESN, The Developers Behind Battlefield's Battlelog Online Social Network".TechCrunch.2012-09-16.Retrieved2012-09-26.
  68. ^McWhertor, Michael (November 9, 2017)."EA to acquire Titanfall developer Respawn".Polygon.RetrievedNovember 10,2017.
  69. ^Makuch, Eddie (December 5, 2017)."EA Now Owns Titanfall Developer Respawn".GameSpot.RetrievedDecember 7,2017.
  70. ^"Electronic Arts Acquires Cloud Gaming Technology & Talent | EA Press Room".ea.newshq.businesswire.Retrieved2018-05-22.
  71. ^"Electronic Arts Acquires Industrial Toys".Business Wire.July 9, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 18,2021.
  72. ^"Electronic Arts and Codemasters Establish a New Global Powerhouse for Racing Videogames & Entertainment".Business Wire.February 18, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 18,2021.
  73. ^Takahashi, Dean (April 29, 2021)."EA completes $2.4 billion acquisition of Glu Mobile".VentureBeat.RetrievedApril 29,2021.
  74. ^Good, Owen (May 5, 2021)."EA Sports is getting back into baseball".Polygon.RetrievedMay 5,2021.
  75. ^"Electronic Arts Acquires Playdemic, Makers of the Highly Successful Golf Clash Mobile Game, From Warner Bros. Games and AT&T".ir.ea.Retrieved2021-06-23.
  76. ^Business Wire (1995-01-25)."Electronic Arts takes equity stake in leading software developer, Visual Concepts Entertainment".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  77. ^Business Wire (1995-05-09)."Electronic Arts invests in software publisher, NovaLogic; companies ink four-year distribution deal".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  78. ^Business Wire (1997-03-11)."Electronic Arts invests in Accolade; companies ink multiyear distribution deal".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  79. ^"Accolade".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-12-14.Retrieved2010-08-30.
  80. ^Business Wire (1997-04-03)."Electronic Arts, Mpath announce online game agreement and investment".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  81. ^"GameSpy Industries Completes Acquisition of Mplayer".GameSpy Press Release.GameZone. 2001-06-18. Archived fromthe originalon 2006-04-08.Retrieved2010-08-30.
  82. ^Business Wire (1998-08-04)."Electronic Arts Enters Into Long Term Development Agreement and Makes Investment in Software Developer Kodiak Interactive; Salt Lake City Studio to Develop WCW Titles".The Free Library.Retrieved2015-03-15.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  83. ^"Kodiak Interactive".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-03-07.Retrieved2008-08-30.
  84. ^Bloomberg (2010-07-16)."Electronic Arts Sells 15% Stake in France's Ubisoft".Bloomberg Business Week. Archived fromthe originalon July 19, 2010.Retrieved2010-08-05.

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