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List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts

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List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts

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Electronic Arts logo

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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. TOC

Key

*Electronic Arts sold stake

Acquisitions

DateCompanyBusinessCountryValue (USD)Derived StudiosReferences
1Batteries Included†Hardware and software developerCAN——
2Distinctive Software Inc.‡Video game developer—EA Vancouver
3Origin Systems†USA$—
4DROsoft†Software distributorESP——
5Bullfrog Productions†Video game developerUK——
6Kingsoft GmbH†Software distributorGER——
7Manley & Associates‡Video game developerUSA—EA Seattle
8Maxis†Video game developer and publisher$MaxisWhile Maxis Emeryville was closed, other Maxis groups were consolidated into existing studios of EA. New studios using the brand name began opening in 2019.
9Tiburon Entertainment‡Video game developer—EA Tiburon
10Vision Software‡Software distributorRSA—Vision Software
11ABC Software†CH—ABC Software
12Westwood Studios; Virgin Interactive's North American Operations, Burst Studios†Computer and video game developersUSA$EA Pacific†Staff who choose to remain were absorbed into EA Los Angeles.
13PlayNation‡Developer of online entertainment—PlayNation
14Kesmai†Video game developer and online game publisher——
15DreamWorks Interactive†Video game developer—Danger Close Games†
16Pogo.comFamily games website——
17Black Box Games†Sports and racing video game developerCAN—Quicklime Games†
18Studio 33‡Racing video game developerUK—EA Northwest
19NuFX†Sports video game developerUSA—EA Chicago†
20Criterion SoftwareVideo game developerUK$—
21Hypnotix†USA—EA Tiburon
22JAMDAT Mobile‡Mobile entertainment developer$EA Mobile
23Mythic Entertainment†Computer game developer—EA Mythic†
24Phenomic Game Development†Real-time strategy game developerGER—EA Phenomic†
25Digital Illusions CE (DICE)‡DICE Ontario was closed down; the Stockholm studio persists under the "EA DICE" label.Video game developerSWE—EA DICE
26Headgate Studios†USA—EA Salt Lake†
27SingShot Media‡Social network service—Sims on Stage
28Super Computer International‡Computer software developer—EA Online Technology‡
29VG Holding Corp.†Holding company of video game developers$BioWarePandemic Studios†
30Hands-On Mobile‡Mobile video game developer and publisherROK—EA Mobile Korea
31ThreeSF†Social network serviceUSA——
32J2MSoft†Computer game developerROK——
33Q1 Fiscal 2010J2Play†Social network serviceCAN——
34Playfish†Social network game developerUK$—
35Chillingo†Mobile video game publisher$—
36Mobile Post ProductionMobile video game developer and publisherUSA——
37FiremintAUS——
38PopCap GamesVideo game developer and publisherUSA$Includes $650 million in cash and the issuing of $100 million in EA common stock to certain shareholders of PopCap Games. Does not include additional cash possibly received based on earnings before interest and taxes milestones through December 2013.San Francisco & Seattle
39Bight Games‡Trade Wars (mobile game)CAN—Red Crow Studios
40ESNSocial gaming product developersSWE——
41Respawn EntertainmentVideo game developerUSA$Includes $151 million in cash and $164 million in equity.—
42GameFlyGame streaming——
43Industrial Toys†Mobile video game developer——
44CodemastersVideo game developer and publisherUK$1,200,000,000—
45Glu MobileMobile video game developer and publisherUSA$2,400,000,000EA Mobile
46Metalhead SoftwareVideo game developerCAN——
47June 23, 2021PlaydemicMobile video game developerUK$1,400,000,000—
48February 4, 2025TRACAB TechnologiesSports tracking platformSWE——

Total: companies

Stakes

DateCompanyBusinessCountryValueReferences
Visual Concepts EntertainmentEA purchased a minority stake, later sold to Take 2 Interactive.Video game developerUSA—
NovaLogic†EA purchased a minority stake, yet there is no mention of it on EA's Investor Page. Later sold to THQ Nordic in 2016Video game developer and publisherUSA—
Accolade†EA purchased a minority stake. Later purchased by Infogrames.Video game developer and publisherUSA—
Mpath Interactive†EA purchased a minority stake. On June 18, 2001, it was acquired by GameSpy and MPlayer.com was merged with GameSpy Arcade.Computer game and online companyUSA—
Kodiak Interactive Software Studios, Inc.†EA purchased a minority stake, but it later merged with Acclaim Entertainment.Video game developerUSA—
Ubisoft*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).Video game developer and publisherFRA68.9 million euros

Notes

References

References

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  3. (2005-10-11). "The Conquest of Origin pg. 3". Escapist.
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  5. (2004-02-25). "EA to Shut Down Origin Systems". Gamepro.
  6. (2009-11-18). "EA closes Pandemic Studios unit".
  7. Caroline McCarthy. (2007-10-11). "Electronic Arts pays $860 million for BioWare, Pandemic Studios".
  8. (20 December 2017). "Electronic Arts' biggest acquisitions: The good, the so-so, and the duds". VentureBeat.
  9. (2005-03-14). "Artist Showcase: Michael Reichmann". The Nature, Wildlife and Pet Photography Forum.
  10. Software Industry Report. (1997-06-04). "Electronic Arts; Distinctive Software Inc.". AllBusiness.
  11. PR Newswire. (1992-09-10). "Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire Origin Systems". The Free Library.
  12. (1994-11-14). "Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Spain; forms third subsidiary in continental Europe.". The Free Library.
  13. (January 6, 1995). "Electronic Arts to acquire leading European software developer, Bullfrog Productions Ltd.". [[Business Wire]].
  14. "Bullfrog Productions".
  15. (1995-03-08). "Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Germany, Kingsoft GmbH.". The Free Library.
  16. (1996-01-29). "Electronic Arts Acquires Software Developer Manley & Associates.". The Free Library.
  17. (1997-06-04). "Electronic Arts and Maxis Inc. announce definitive agreement to merge; transaction valued at approximately $125 million.". The Free Library.
  18. Kain, Erik. (2015-03-04). "'SimCity' Developer Shut Down By EA".
  19. Sarkar, Samit. (March 4, 2015). "EA shuts down Maxis Emeryville, studio behind SimCity".
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  22. Bianco, Armando. (2018-04-14). "Die Schliessung der ABC in Buchs fordert rund 60 Stellen".
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  24. (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.
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  26. (1998-09-08). "Electronic Arts Announces Acquisition of PlayNation; Online Entertainment Developer Adds to EA's Internet Content.". The Free Library.
  27. (1999-11-22). "Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to Acquire News Corp. Online Game Unit, Kesmai.". The Free Library.
  28. (2000-02-24). "Electronic Arts Acquires DreamWorks Interactive From Microsoft And DreamWorks SKG.". The Free Library.
  29. Handrahan, Matthew. (2013-06-14). "EA confirms dissolution of Danger Close". Videogames.biz.
  30. (2001-02-28). "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.
  31. (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.
  32. (2013-04-25). "EA closing Vancouver studios PopCap and Quicklime in latest round of layoffs: report". [[Financial Post]].
  33. (2013-04-25). "Electronic Arts closing PopCap and Quicklime in latest layoffs to hit Vancouver's gaming sector". [[Vancouver Sun]].
  34. [[Electronic Arts]]. (2003-10-16). "UK Developer Studio 33 Joins EA Worldwide Studios". [[Yahoo! Finance]].
  35. (2007-11-06). "EA Confirms EA Chicago is Closing".
  36. (2004-02-13). "NuFX Joins EA Worldwide Studios; Long-Time Development Partner on NBA Street and EA Sports Fight Night 2004 Acquired by EA". Electronic Arts.
  37. (2004-07-28). "EA to Acquire Criterion Software Group from Canon Europe; EA Acquires UK Creator of Burnout 3 and RenderWare.". The Free Library.
  38. "EA pays $48 million for Criterion".
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  53. (2008-12-02). "EA Acquires Korean Online Game Developer J2M". Electronic Arts.
  54. (2009-08-04). "EA Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2010 Results". [[Electronic Arts]].
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  58. (2010-10-20). "EA buys Angry Birds publisher Chillingo". [[Los Angeles Times]].
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  60. (2011-05-03). "Electronic Arts Purchases MPP developer and Firemint". Game Beats.
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  63. (2012-12-24). "96 jobs lost as PopCap closes Dublin office". The Daily Business Post.
  64. (2011-08-11). "Electronic Arts Buys Purchases Charlottetown Video Game Developer". [[The Guardian]].
  65. (2012-09-16). "Electronic Arts Buys Online Gaming Studio ESN, The Developers Behind Battlefield's Battlelog Online Social Network". [[TechCrunch]].
  66. (2017-11-09). "EA to acquire Titanfall developer Respawn". [[Polygon (website).
  67. Makuch, Eddie. (December 5, 2017). "EA Now Owns Titanfall Developer Respawn".
  68. "Electronic Arts Acquires Cloud Gaming Technology & Talent {{!}} EA Press Room".
  69. (July 9, 2018). "Electronic Arts Acquires Industrial Toys".
  70. (February 18, 2021). "Electronic Arts and Codemasters Establish a New Global Powerhouse for Racing Videogames & Entertainment".
  71. Takahashi, Dean. (April 29, 2021). "EA completes $2.4 billion acquisition of Glu Mobile".
  72. Good, Owen. (May 5, 2021). "EA Sports is getting back into baseball". [[Polygon (website).
  73. "Electronic Arts Acquires Playdemic, Makers of the Highly Successful Golf Clash Mobile Game, From Warner Bros. Games and AT&T".
  74. Arts, Electronic. (2025-04-01). "Electronic Arts Agrees To Acquire TRACAB Technologies".
  75. Middler, Jordan. (2025-02-04). "'We expect ground-breaking new features': EA acquires 'realism' tech for EA Sports FC series".
  76. (1995-01-25). "Electronic Arts takes equity stake in leading software developer, Visual Concepts Entertainment.". The Free Library.
  77. (1995-05-09). "Electronic Arts invests in software publisher, NovaLogic; companies ink four-year distribution deal.". The Free Library.
  78. (1997-03-11). "Electronic Arts invests in Accolade; companies ink multiyear distribution deal.". The Free Library.
  79. "Accolade".
  80. (1997-04-03). "Electronic Arts, Mpath announce online game agreement and investment.". The Free Library.
  81. (2001-06-18). "GameSpy Industries Completes Acquisition of Mplayer". GameZone.
  82. (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.
  83. "Kodiak Interactive".
  84. (2004-12-24). "EA Invests in Ubisoft; Acquires Approximately 19.9 Percent Equity in Global Game Company.". The Free Library.
  85. Ecorcheville, Ambroise. "UPDATE: Electronic Arts Sells Ubisoft Shares, Ends 6-Year Link". Automated Trader.
  86. Bloomberg. (2010-07-16). "Electronic Arts Sells 15% Stake in France's Ubisoft". Bloomberg Business Week.
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