EA acquires Popcap Games

Electronic Arts has acquired casual game creator Popcap Games in a deal worth up to 1.3 billion US dollars, the publisher has announced.

Popcap Games, known for casual titles such as Plants vs Zombies, Bejeweled Blitz and Bookworm Adventures, will recieve an initial $750 million USD, including $100 million in stock. That figure will be raised by $550 million in bonuses if sales targets continue to be met, however.

'As some of you may have heard, we recently announced that PopCap Games is being acquired by Electronic Arts, a small mom-and-pop boutique software publisher,' wrote PopCap in an official statement.

'What does this mean for the future? It's simple: 1, EA is being rebranded to Poptronic Arts; 2, Sim Zuma: The SwampLife Edition; 3, Peggle: Dead Space – Bjorn's Breakfast; 4, Bejeweled Battlefield Blitz; 5, Plants vs. ZombEAz: NFL Lockout Edition.'

More seriously the casual gaming giant said that, while it would now be able to draw on deeper resources, it wouldn't change focus from creating 'awesome casual games'.

Electronic Arts had previously bought out social gaming company Playfish too, in a deal worth $400 million USD.

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