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List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts is an American company that is a developer, marketer, publisher, and distributor of video games, that was founded in 1982. Products of the company include EA Sports franchises, Sims, and other titles on both handheld and home gaming consoles.[1]

Electronic Arts often acquires new companies to expand or add to new product lines. For instance, EA chairman and chief executive officer Larry Probst said after the acquisition of JAMDAT Mobile that "we intend to build a leading global position in the [...] business of providing games on mobile phones". EA followed through with this later, making the company into EA Mobile, and allowing people to purchase and download content produced by them directly onto their phones.[1] After the acquisition of Origin 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.[2][3] EA has shut down entire companies or the studios thereof after acquiring them, including the studio DICE Canada, Origin Systems, EA Chicago (NuFX), and Pandemic Studios.[4][5][6] Gaming blogger Brian Crecente has said that fears that EA doesn't care about the quality of their products after they are acquired are debatable.[7]

As of April 2021, Electronic Arts' largest acquisition is the purchase of Glu 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 in Continental Europe, and eight elsewhere. The majority of these companies and studios are now defunct, 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-based Ubisoft in 2004, EA sold a remaining 14.8% stake in it in 2010.

Each acquisition listed is for the entire company, unless otherwise noted. The acquisition date listed is the date of the agreement between Electronic 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.[8]

Key

Acquisitions

Total: companies

Stakes

External links

References

  1. Electronic Arts, Inc.: Full Description Reuters, retrieved 2008-04-13^
  2. The Conquest of Origin pg. 2 Escapist, 2005-10-11, retrieved 2008-05-03^
  3. The Conquest of Origin pg. 3 Escapist, 2005-10-11, retrieved 2008-05-03^
  4. Brendan Sinclair. EA shuts down DICE Canada Gamespot, 2006-10-06, retrieved 2008-05-03^
  5. EA to Shut Down Origin Systems Gamepro, 2004-02-25, retrieved 2008-05-03^
  6. EA closes Pandemic Studios unit CNET, 2009-11-18, retrieved 2010-08-05^
  7. Caroline McCarthy. Electronic Arts pays $860 million for BioWare, Pandemic Studios CNET, 2007-10-11, retrieved 2008-05-03^
  8. Electronic Arts' biggest acquisitions: The good, the so-so, and the duds VentureBeat, 20 December 2017^
  9. Ian Chadwick. Ian's Quest ST-Log, 1988^
  10. Artist Showcase: Michael Reichmann The Nature, Wildlife and Pet Photography Forum, 2005-03-14, retrieved 2016-07-07^
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  12. PR Newswire. Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire Origin Systems The Free Library, 1992-09-10, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  13. Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Spain; forms third subsidiary in continental Europe. The Free Library, 1994-11-14, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  14. Electronic Arts to acquire leading European software developer, Bullfrog Productions Ltd. The Free Library, Business Wire, January 6, 1995, retrieved July 16, 2019^
  15. Bullfrog Productions IGN, retrieved 2010-08-20^
  16. Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Germany, Kingsoft GmbH. The Free Library, 1995-03-08, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  17. Electronic Arts Acquires Software Developer Manley & Associates. The Free Library, 1996-01-29, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  18. 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.^
  19. Electronic Arts and Maxis Inc. announce definitive agreement to merge; transaction valued at approximately $125 million. The Free Library, 1997-06-04, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  20. Erik Kain. 'SimCity' Developer Shut Down By EA Forbes, 2015-03-04, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  21. Samit Sarkar. EA shuts down Maxis Emeryville, studio behind SimCity Polygon, March 4, 2015, retrieved March 4, 2015^
  22. Electronic Arts Acquires Software Developer Tiburon Entertainment; Leading Sports Game Developer Becomes Wholly-Owned Subsidiary. The Free Library, 1998-04-02, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  23. Electronic Arts Acquires Vision Software PTY Ltd.; EA Moves Into Continent of Africa. The Free Library, 1998-04-08, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  24. Armando Bianco. Die Schliessung der ABC in Buchs fordert rund 60 Stellen St. Galler Tagblatt, 2018-04-14, retrieved 2025-08-27^
  25. Electronic Arts Acquires ABC Software to Establish Direct Sales Organizations in Switzerland and Austria. The Free Library, 1998-07-28, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  26. Staff who choose to remain were absorbed into EA Los Angeles.^
  27. 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, 1998-08-17, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  28. Westwood Studios, Inc. MobyGames, retrieved 2010-08-20^
  29. Electronic Arts Announces Acquisition of PlayNation; Online Entertainment Developer Adds to EA's Internet Content. The Free Library, 1998-09-08, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  30. Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire News Corp. Online Game Unit, Kesmai. PR Newswire, The Free Library, 1999-11-22, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  31. Electronic Arts Acquires DreamWorks Interactive From Microsoft And DreamWorks SKG. PR Newswire, The Free Library, 2000-02-24, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  32. Matthew Handrahan. EA confirms dissolution of Danger Close Videogames.biz, 2013-06-14, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  33. EA.com Acquires Leading Games Destination pogo.com; pogo.com's Popular Family Games Site Complements EA.com's Rich Content Games. The Free Library, 2001-02-28, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  34. EA to Acquire Black Box Games Development Studio; Creators of Top-Selling Sports and Racing Games to Join EA. The Free Library, 2002-06-11, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  35. EA closing Vancouver studios PopCap and Quicklime in latest round of layoffs: report Financial Post, 2013-04-25, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  36. Electronic Arts closing PopCap and Quicklime in latest layoffs to hit Vancouver's gaming sector Vancouver Sun, 2013-04-25, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  37. Electronic Arts. UK Developer Studio 33 Joins EA Worldwide Studios Yahoo! Finance, 2003-10-16, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  38. EA Confirms EA Chicago is Closing Kotaku, 2007-11-06, retrieved 2010-08-20^
  39. NuFX Joins EA Worldwide Studios; Long-Time Development Partner on NBA Street and EA Sports Fight Night 2004 Acquired by EA Electronic Arts, 2004-02-13, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  40. EA to Acquire Criterion Software Group from Canon Europe; EA Acquires UK Creator of Burnout 3 and RenderWare. Business Wire, The Free Library, 2004-07-28, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  41. EA pays $48 million for Criterion^
  42. Gamespot. Electronic Arts acquires Hypnotix. Gamespot, 2009-07-27, retrieved 2009-05-01^
  43. 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, retrieved 2008-04-13^
  44. EA to Acquire Mythic Entertainment Mythic Entertainment, 2006-06-20, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  45. Brendan Sinclair. Mythic shut down Videogames.biz, 2014-05-29, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  46. EA Acquires Phenomic Game Development; Acclaimed Creators of Real Time Strategy Franchises Become EA's Newest Studio in Europe. The Free Library, 2006-08-23, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  47. Matthew Handrahan. EA Phenomic closed Videogames.biz, 2013-07-12, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  48. DICE Ontario was closed down; the Stockholm studio persists under the "EA DICE" label.^
  49. Digital Illusions CE TeamXbox, 2006-10-02, retrieved 2008-04-13^
  50. Headgate Studios Team Joins EA. The Free Library, 2006-11-30, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  51. EA Acquires Singshot Media Electronic Arts, 2007-02-12, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  52. Press Releases Electronic Arts, retrieved 2008-04-13^
  53. EA Acquires Super Computer International Electronic Arts, 2007-10-05, retrieved 2009-08-04^
  54. Letzing, John. Electronic Arts to buy game maker VG Holding MarketWatch, 2007-10-11, retrieved 2008-04-13^
  55. EA to Acquire Assets of Hands-On Mobile Korea Electronic Arts, 2008-05-21, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  56. EA Acquires ThreeSF Electronic Arts, 2008-06-03, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  57. EA Acquires Korean Online Game Developer J2M Electronic Arts, 2008-12-02, retrieved 2009-08-04^
  58. EA Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2010 Results Electronic Arts, 2009-08-04, retrieved 2009-08-04^
  59. Q2 Fiscal Year 2010 Results^
  60. Bobbie Johnson. Playfish sells to Electronic Arts in deal worth up to $400m The Guardian, 2009-11-09, retrieved 2010-08-30^
  61. Brendan Sinclair. EA shutting down Playfish games Videogames.biz, 2013-04-15, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  62. EA buys Angry Birds publisher Chillingo Los Angeles Times, 2010-10-20, retrieved 2010-11-01^
  63. Chillingo Limited Companies House, retrieved 2024-03-06^
  64. Electronic Arts Purchases MPP developer and Firemint Game Beats, 2011-05-03, retrieved 2011-05-11^
  65. Electronic Arts buys Aussie game maker Firemint New Zealand Herald, 2011-05-04, retrieved 2011-07-12^
  66. Includes $650 million in cash and the issuing of $100 million in EA common stock to certain shareholders of PopCap Games. Does not include additional cash possibly received based on earnings before interest and taxes milestones through December 2013.^
  67. EA to Acquire PopCap Games Business Wire, 2011-07-12, retrieved 2011-07-12^
  68. 96 jobs lost as PopCap closes Dublin office The Daily Business Post, 2012-12-24, retrieved 2015-03-04^
  69. Electronic Arts Buys Purchases Charlottetown Video Game Developer The Guardian, 2011-08-11, retrieved 2021-03-08^
  70. Electronic Arts Buys Online Gaming Studio ESN, The Developers Behind Battlefield's Battlelog Online Social Network TechCrunch, 2012-09-16, retrieved 2012-09-26^
  71. Includes $151 million in cash and $164 million in equity.^
  72. Michael McWhertor. EA to acquire Titanfall developer Respawn Polygon, 2017-11-09, retrieved 2017-11-10^
  73. Eddie Makuch. EA Now Owns Titanfall Developer Respawn GameSpot, December 5, 2017, retrieved December 7, 2017^
  74. Electronic Arts Acquires Cloud Gaming Technology & Talent ea.newshq.businesswire.com, retrieved 2018-05-22^
  75. Electronic Arts Acquires Industrial Toys July 9, 2018, retrieved February 18, 2021^
  76. Electronic Arts and Codemasters Establish a New Global Powerhouse for Racing Videogames & Entertainment February 18, 2021, retrieved February 18, 2021^
  77. Dean Takahashi. EA completes $2.4 billion acquisition of Glu Mobile VentureBeat, April 29, 2021, retrieved April 29, 2021^
  78. Owen Good. EA Sports is getting back into baseball Polygon, May 5, 2021, retrieved May 5, 2021^
  79. Electronic Arts Acquires Playdemic, Makers of the Highly Successful Golf Clash Mobile Game, From Warner Bros. Games and AT&T ir.ea.com, retrieved 2021-06-23^
  80. Electronic Arts. Electronic Arts Agrees To Acquire TRACAB Technologies Electronic Arts Inc., 2025-04-01, retrieved 2025-08-27^
  81. Jordan Middler. 'We expect ground-breaking new features': EA acquires 'realism' tech for EA Sports FC series VGC, 2025-02-04, retrieved 2025-08-27^
  82. EA purchased a minority stake, later sold to Take 2 Interactive.^
  83. Electronic Arts takes equity stake in leading software developer, Visual Concepts Entertainment. The Free Library, 1995-01-25, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  84. EA purchased a minority stake, yet there is no mention of it on EA's Investor Page. Later sold to THQ Nordic in 2016^
  85. Electronic Arts invests in software publisher, NovaLogic; companies ink four-year distribution deal. The Free Library, 1995-05-09, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  86. EA purchased a minority stake. Later purchased by Infogrames.^
  87. Electronic Arts invests in Accolade; companies ink multiyear distribution deal. The Free Library, 1997-03-11, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  88. Accolade IGN, retrieved 2010-08-30^
  89. EA purchased a minority stake. On June 18, 2001, it was acquired by GameSpy and MPlayer.com was merged with GameSpy Arcade.^
  90. Electronic Arts, Mpath announce online game agreement and investment. The Free Library, 1997-04-03, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  91. GameSpy Industries Completes Acquisition of Mplayer GameSpy Press Release, GameZone, 2001-06-18, retrieved 2010-08-30^
  92. EA purchased a minority stake, but it later merged with Acclaim Entertainment.^
  93. 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, 1998-08-04, retrieved 2015-03-15^
  94. Kodiak Interactive IGN, retrieved 2008-08-30^
  95. 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 million U.S. dollars (94 million euros).^
  96. EA Invests in Ubisoft; Acquires Approximately 19.9 Percent Equity in Global Game Company. The Free Library, 2004-12-24, retrieved 2025-08-26^
  97. Ambroise Ecorcheville. UPDATE: Electronic Arts Sells Ubisoft Shares, Ends 6-Year Link Automated Trader, retrieved 2010-08-05^
  98. Bloomberg. Electronic Arts Sells 15% Stake in France's Ubisoft Bloomberg Business Week, 2010-07-16, retrieved 2010-08-05^