News: EA Goes Casual With Latest Acquisition of PopCap Games

Earlier today, games publishing giant EA has announced its acquisition of PopCap Games, creators of casual hits Plants Vs. Zombies, Zuma, and Bejeweled. According to EA, this new acquisition will help them boost their digital businesses to reach 1$ Billion in value.

EA is set on conquering the gaming business with its latest acquisition of PopCap games, expanding their portfolio of games with one of the best casual IP's in the industry. The deal is set to close this August 2011, with EA paying approximately $650 million in cash and $100 million in shares of EA common stock to be issued to certain stockholders of PopCap. Once the acquisition is complete, PopCap will become a part of EA Interactive – led by Barry Cottle.


“EA and PopCap are a compelling combination,” said EA CEO John Riccitiello. “PopCap’s great studio talent and powerful IP add to EA’s momentum and accelerate our drive towards a $1 billion digital business. EA’s global studio and publishing network will help PopCap rapidly expand their business to more digital devices, more countries, and more channels.”

“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.”

PopCap has more than 150 million games installed and played worldwide on social gaming platforms such as Facebook® and Google™ and mobile platforms such as  iPhone™, iPad™ and Android.

So what do the Zombies have to say about their new masters?

Source: EA Press Release, EA News