List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts

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EA headquarters in Redwood Shores, California
EA headquarters in Redwood Shores, California

This is a list of acquisitions by Electronic Arts. Electronic Arts is a company that is an American developer, marketer, publisher, and distributor of computer and 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".[2] 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 lattitude if employees made a mistake, and in some cases no longer trusted them, and even worked against them.[3][4] EA has shut down studios of companies after acquiring them, including DICE Canada and Origin Systems.[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 2008, Electronic Arts' largest acquisition is the purchase of VG Holding Corp., the owner of video game developers Bioware and Pandemic Studios, for $775 million. Of the 26 companies acquired by EA, 15 are based in the U.S., three in the United Kingdom, five in Continental Europe, and three elsewhere.

Each acquisition listed is for the entire company. The acquisition date listed is the date of the agreement between Electronic Arts (EA) and the subject of the acquisition. 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.

Contents


[edit] Acquisitions

Acquisition date Company Business Country Value (United States dollars) Derived products References
01991-07-01 1 July 1991 Distinctive Software Inc. Video game developer Flag of Canada CAN — EA Canada [8]
01992-09-21 21 September 1992 Origin Systems Fantasy role-playing game developer Flag of the United States USA $&0000000035000000.00000035,000,000 Origin Systems [9]
01994-11-14 14 November 1994 DROsoft Software distributor Flag of Spain ESP — DROsoft [10]
01995-02-06 6 February 1995 Bullfrog Productions Video game developer Flag of the United Kingdom UK — Bullfrog Productions [11]
01995-03-08 8 March 1995 Kingsoft GmbH Software distributor Flag of Germany GER — Kingsoft GmbH [12]
01996-01-29 29 January 1996 Manley & Associates Video game developer Flag of the United States USA — EA Seattle [13]
01997-06-04 4 June 1997 Maxis Video game developer Flag of the United States USA $&0000000125000000.000000125,000,000 Maxis [14]
01998-04-02 2 April 1998 Tiburon Entertainment Video game developer Flag of the United States USA — EA Tiburon [15]
01998-04-08 8 April 1998 Vision Software Software distributor Flag of South Africa RSA — Vision Software [16]
01998-07-28 28 July 1998 ABC Software Software distributor Flag of Switzerland CH — ABC Software [17]
01998-08-17 17 August 1998 Westwood Studios; other studios of Virgin Interactive Entertainment Computer and video game developers Flag of the United States USA $&0000000122500000.0000-0122,500,000 EA Pacific [18]
01999-09-08 8 September 1999 PlayNation Developer of online entertainment Flag of the United States USA — PlayNation [19]
01999-11-22 22 November 1999 Kesmai Video game developer and online game publisher Flag of the United States USA — Kesmai [20]
02000-02-24 24 February 2000 DreamWorks Interactive Video game developer Flag of the United States USA — EA Los Angeles [21]
02001-02-28 28 February 2001 pogo.com Family games website Flag of the United States USA — pogo.com [22]
02002-06-11 11 June 2002 Black Box Games Sports and racing video game developer Flag of Canada CAN — EA Black Box [23]
02003-10-16 16 October 2003 Studio 33 Racing video game developer Flag of the United Kingdom UK — EA Northwest [24]
02004-02-13 13 February 2004 NuFX Sports video game developer Flag of the United States USA — EA Chicago [25]
02004-07-28 28 July 2004 Criterion Software Video game developer Flag of the United Kingdom UK — Criterion Software [26]
02005-12-08 8 December 2005 JAMDAT Mobile Mobile entertainment developer Flag of the United States USA $&0000000680000000.000000680,000,000 EA Mobile [2]
02006-07-20 20 July 2006 Mythic Entertainment Computer game developer Flag of the United States USA — EA Mythic [27]
02006-08-23 23 August 2006 Phenomic Game Development Real-time strategy game developer Flag of Germany GER — EA Phenomic [28]
02006-10-02 2 October 2006 Digital Illusions CE Video game developer Flag of Sweden SWE — EA Digital Illusions CE [29]
02006-11-30 30 November 2006 Headgate Studios Video game developer Flag of the United States USA — EA Salt Lake [30]
02007-02-12 12 February 2007 SingShot Media Social network service Flag of the United States USA — Sims on Stage [31][32]
02007-10-11 11 October 2007 VG Holding Corp. Owner of video game developers Flag of the United States USA $&0000000775000000.000000775,000,000 BioWare; Pandemic Studios [33]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Electronic Arts, Inc.: Full Description. Reuters. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  2. ^ a b 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 on 2008-04-13.
  3. ^ The Conquest of Origin pg. 2. Escapist (2005-10-11). Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  4. ^ The Conquest of Origin pg. 3. Escapist (2005-10-11). Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  5. ^ Brendan Sinclair (2006-10-06). EA shuts down DICE Canada. Gamespot. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  6. ^ EA to Shut Down Origin Systems. Gamepro (2004-02-25). Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  7. ^ Caroline McCarthy (2007-10-11). Electronic Arts pays $860 million for BioWare, Pandemic Studios. CNET. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  8. ^ Software Industry Report (1997-06-04). Electronic Arts; Distinctive Software Inc.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  9. ^ Business Wire (1992-09-21). Electronic Arts to acquire leading European software developer, Bullfrog Productions Ltd.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  10. ^ Business Wire (1995-03-08). Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Spain; forms third subsidiary in continental Europe.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  11. ^ Business Wire (1995-02-06). Electronic Arts to acquire leading European software developer, Bullfrog Productions Ltd.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  12. ^ Business Wire (1995-03-08). Electronic Arts acquires distributor in Germany, Kingsoft GmbH.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  13. ^ Business Wire (1996-01-29). Electronic Arts Acquires Software Developer Manley & Associates.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  14. ^ Software Industry Report (1997-06-04). Electronic Arts and Maxis Inc. announce definitiveagreement to merge; transaction valued at approximately $125million.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  15. ^ Business Wire (1998-04-02). Electronic Arts Acquires Software Developer TiburonEntertainment; Leading Sports Game Developer Becomes Wholly-OwnedSubsidiary.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  16. ^ Business Wire (1998-04-08). Electronic Arts Acquires Vision Software PTY Ltd.; EA Moves Into Continent of Africa.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  17. ^ Business Wire (1997-06-04). Electronic Arts Acquires ABC Software to EstablishDirect Sales Organizations in Switzerland andAustria.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  18. ^ Business Wire (1998-08-17). Electronic Arts to Buy Westwood Studios From VirginInteractive Entertainment; EA to Acquire Creators of Command &Conquer in a Cash.... AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  19. ^ Electronic Arts Announces Acquistion Of Playnation (.doc). Electronic Arts (1999-9-8). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  20. ^ Electronic Arts Announces Agreement to acquire News Corp. Online Game Unit, Kesmai (.doc). Electronic Arts (1999-11-22). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  21. ^ Business Wire (2000-02-24). Electronic Arts Acquires Dreamworks Interactive From Microsoft and Dreamworks SKG (.doc). Electronic Arts. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  22. ^ Business Wire (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.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  23. ^ EA to Acquire Black Box Games Development Studio (.doc). Electronic Arts (2002-06-11). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  24. ^ UK Developer Studio 33 Joins EA Worldwide Studios (.doc). Electronic Arts (2003-10-16). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  25. ^ NuFX joins EA Worldwide Studios. Electronic Arts (2004-02-13). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  26. ^ Business Wire (2004-07-28). EA to Acquire Criterion Software Group from CANON EUROPE; EA Acquires UK Creator of Burnout 3 and RenderWare.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  27. ^ EA to Acquire Mythic Entertainment. Mythic Entertainment (2006-06-20). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  28. ^ EA Acquires Phenomic Game Development; Acclaimed Creators of Real Time Strategy Franchises Become EA's Newest Studio in.... AllBusiness (2006-08-23). Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  29. ^ Digital Illusions CE. TeamXbox (2006-10-02). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  30. ^ Business Wire (2006-11-30). Headgate Studios Team Joins EA.. AllBusiness. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  31. ^ EA Acquires Singshot Media (PDF). Electronic Arts (2007-02-12). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  32. ^ Press Releases. Electronic Arts. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  33. ^ Letzing, John (2007-10-11). Electronic Arts to buy game maker VG Holding. MarketWatch. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.

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