The video game industry has undergone enormous changes in 2022. The most notorious cases were the purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft for a whopping $68 billion and the purchase of Bungie by Sony, among others. Now, Electronic Arts is in negotiations with a number of companies to a possible sale or merger.
Electronic Arts looking for a sale or merger
The Puck, Kotaku and ComicBook media have reported that Electronic Arts (Battlefield 2042, FIFA 22 and Need For Speed Heat) would have held talks with different companies. The agreement with the company NBC Universal was about to become a reality, but finally they did not finish agreeing on the ideal price for both parties. The negotiations were so close to closing that managers, lawyers and bankers were involved.
Other reports indicate that Electronic Arts would have also contacted Disney, Amazon and Apple to be acquired. Remember that EA has games from the Star Wars franchise such as the Battlefront saga, Squadrons and Jedi: Fallen Order.
In any case, the sources do not finish clarifying whether Electronic Arts is looking for a sale or merger. Journalist Dylan Beyers notes that “Multiple sources familiar with these conversations say EA has been persistent in pursuing a sale, only emboldened by the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard deal.“.
However, he adds: “Others say EA is primarily interested in a merger deal that allows Wilson to remain CEO of the combined company.“. By last, an EA spokesperson denied to Kotaku that Electronic Arts is holding these talksperhaps so that these negotiations were not public until an agreement was reached.
What will finally happen to Electronic Arts? Which big company will be chosen to buy or merge with Electronic Arts? It is very possible that some negotiation will come to fruition in the coming weeks.