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Microsoft to buy EA?

Posted Sep 23, 2009 at 10:41AM EST by Karl B.

Listed in: Wii, PS3, PSP, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PC Gaming Tags: Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Reuters

RUMOR ALERT! - Image 1

First, a disclaimer: this is just a rumor, so get your saltshakers ready. All set? Okay. Rumor has it that Microsoft is gunning for a takeover of video game publishing giant Electronic Arts.

So, does this mean Madden exclusively for the Xbox 360? Microsoft won't comment. EA has also not yet said anything about the rumor, which pretty much just sprung up suddenly on Reuters thanks to this statement from options strategist Frederic Ruffy:

There's talk that Microsoft might be interested in acquiring Electronic Arts. It's unsubstantiated chatter, but it's out there.

Unsubstantiated it may be, but it's already had an effect. Reuters reports that EA's shares jumped more than 4 percent following the rumors.

If this turns out to be true it could be one of the biggest coups in Microsoft's gaming forays in recent years. Still, I can't quite reconcile these two facts: A, Microsoft likes exclusives, and B, EA loves multiplatform releases.

What do you guys think?

Via Reuters

50% of voters think this story ROCKS!

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(1)

...but Sony desperately needs them. Imagine the impact when FIFA and all other sports franchises go exclusive. That would literally crush Sonys PS3. Even if they are crappy rehashes of previous titles, even if FIFA 2010 is nearly the same as FIFA 2000, sadly many customers buy the games again and again.

# FYI — Shazman1984 2009-09-23 12:01

Whats the biggest scam in gaming history??.... No one seems to realize they've actually been playing Madden 10 since 2001.

# ... — symbal 2009-09-23 12:12

I'd love to see this happen but this sounds like the kind of thing that might go against competition laws, because EA owns so many smaller developers then whatever agency oversees this sort of thing would be keeping a close eye on Microsoft if they start withholding major franchises.

# ... — saldude2 2009-09-23 12:16

If this does got through then MS will surely have a major profit and will crush ps3 if it goes through. imagine all the big titles like dead space. bc most of the sports titles and there are soo many more. but i doubt this would happen cuz its to gud to happen for ms. LOL look at what the fools above me are writing, fifa 10 same as fifa 2000? yeah, right and didnt you ever not notice than modern warfare 2 is the same as call of duty 1. no cuz you feed a company like activision and look what they turned out be(atleast they;re much better than ea). im reffering to the ceo"s interview

# . — xavis75211 2009-09-23 12:26

no surpirse. microsoft would probably do this, but if they pull it off, good for them, i dont play but 1 maby to EA games, really no diffrence to me so i dont give a flyng *****.

but when will thay do something unexpected?

# grreeat — PSNDonutDude 2009-09-23 12:28

just great if this goes through ps3 is done everything every game whether you like EA or not is published by EA either games are going to be underfunded and suck or Everything will be on xbox. this will be the final blow to sony ending Playstation. EFF M$ EFF EA EFF BILLGATES (iknow he doesnt work for them but he funded the @$$h0le of a company)

# ... — FelisCatusLover 2009-09-23 12:31

Would be great, they'd make a great team, EA is just as money hungry as Microsoft, well, maybe not that bad but close. There isn't any company as money hungry as Microsoft.

# idiot — Ezekial 2009-09-23 12:57

His statement was over exaggerated but pretty accurate, most sports games come out every year with nothing but roster updates.

CoD1 and MW2 were made by Infinityward made them.

# this is important — jimmyboi55 2009-09-23 13:06

this really would be a turning point if this happened. EA don't just own sport franchises. If MS got these games from sony they would win, end of story

# Ezekial — Stevo Style 2009-09-23 13:24

ur the idiot here cuz what he said was true. take cod4 for example, ppl say it was the best game this and that n 2me thats a stupid claim 2give a title with a less than average storyline and some terrible designing(what kind of game lagges offline?!)

n wot ive seen from da E3 demos n interviews is that MW2 is gonna b the exactly the same only with afew new features(lol just like fifa n pes every year!). so why is activision charging extra for basically the same game?

u'll tell, cuz they dont give a damn bout uu. their only in it 4 da cash. e.a as far as i kno are different from activision so i hope this rumour isn't true!!!

# does not compute — truk 2009-09-23 13:34

"I can't quite reconcile these two facts: A, Microsoft likes exclusives, and B, EA loves multiplatform releases."

exactly. unless EA is in the red, i don't think there is anything to worry about.

# Probably will never pass Congress — phiyuku 2009-09-23 13:47

due to claims of monopoly if it even happens. EA is just too big of a third party developer to be allowed to be eaten up. It would give any company too much power in the gaming industry especially due to EA having exclusivity to make NFL games. Kind of like if Microsoft was to eat up Apple and Linux though that will never happen cause Apple will never allow it and Linux is open source.

# SURE... — CLIFF BLESZINSKI 2009-09-23 13:49

I want to fly to the moon but that's not gonna happen and neither will this. EA announced recently that they were making more money on the PS3. I'm sure Microsoft would also like to buy Activision and Square Enix but that's not happening either. Their are some things that will never happen and that includes EA becoming eclusive to one console. This just seems like laziness and desperation. Desperation cause their desperate for any exclusives because they are losing so many of those timed exclusives, and laziness because instead of opening new studios and giving peope jobs tomake their own exclusives like Sony does they look to take away other people hard work. It's the same thing they did with Rare and that really bit them in the ass since Rare hasn't made anything decent since then. Combine the 50 milion you payed rockstar with the billions your gonna offer EA and find yourself a Media Molecule, Naughty Dog, or Insomniac. Make relationships through more than just throwing bags of money at people.

# OMG — BattleFox721 2009-09-23 14:10

If this happens M$ will own the game industry. Imagine if they do how much will we have to pay to play their games. This will bad for us, not just Sony or the rest of the gaming industry. Even if they don't make EA exclusive to M$ they will begin to pocket the money (continuing to make half a$s games) & work towards gaming domination. As, if the weren't already.

# ... — [DVSDevise] 2009-09-23 14:41

Cant see this happening. But if MS really wanted a major piece of the gaming industry they are definately the company to buy. Though I think it would be VERY hard for EA to hold their sporting licences if they were only developing games for the xbox.

# ... — astaroth001 2009-09-23 14:58

If this goes on and if MS is as hungry for money as we know and so is EA...they need to keep support all consoles cuz it will mean more money...but still EA is not the best gaming house, I dont rememebr the last game I liked...maybe it was Medal Of Honor Heroes...so they need to support all consoles to earn more cash

# !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! — Shazman1984 2009-09-23 15:26

If this happens, all hell in the industry would break loose. Things will instantly become Japanese VS American. Capcom, Namco, Square, Konami all will stick to Ninty and Sony. Ubisoft, being french(haha) will still make multiplatform games pleasing only Canadians. Activision would crummble out of fear. Nintendo then buys Sega, which then merge with Sony and then.... yes ladies and gentleman...... World War III..... (starring Ben Stiller)

# Hmmm... — WarhammerEX 2009-09-23 15:33

It's kinda iffy on whether US anti-trust laws would approve, or disapprove of this takeover if at all it does happen.

# I agree, but only to a point — nate443556 2009-09-23 16:14

I agree with your opinion that both companies just pump out the lowest quality for the highest price just to screw the consumer, but of course both companies are out to make money and cut out competition to make more of it. That's their main goal because they are a business. You really can't blame them for that.

# @Ezekial — nate443556 2009-09-23 16:18

Please attempt to use English. Nobody wants to read or listen to your opinion if it takes them half an hour of googling L33T speak to decipher what you're saying.

# . — NarooN 2009-09-23 16:33

First off, I know EA is money hungry, but there's no way they want that much more than they already have.

You gotta take into consideration that every game EA makes, gets released on platforms that don't even exist yet, so why would they just go and turn themselves into a First-party group?

# . — xavis75211 2009-09-23 16:55

sony is if you havent noticed

# YAY — xavis75211 2009-09-23 16:59

GAMING CAHOS....after all this they will all make smart decisions.

remember, learn from your mistakes....guess what...

# Fact C — symbal 2009-09-23 17:05

They don't just get EA in the deal, they get all the smaller developers that EA owns and all the talent that goes with it, and Microsoft's eaten bigger fish than EA in it's time.

# huh — fearlubu 2009-09-23 18:12

i thought Stevo Style was more annoying than Exekial's...

# ... — blkthunda 2009-09-23 19:47

How does it end for Sony? Most of Sony's first party kick anything that EA made in the rear end. It's not a real lost if you're not into sports game like me.

# ... — Csyrah 2009-09-23 22:34

I've actually been playing Madden 09 for about 9 years so far. It crashes in franchise sometimes though... anyone know when they are releasing a patch for this?

# . — Musev 2009-09-23 23:30

indeed!

Microsoft are monopolising. they need to be stopped.

this is why capitalisim is the same as communisim.

both good on paper (communism is better) but both spoilt by people.

# >> — Mentality 2009-09-24 00:32

Shouldn't be allowed and can't be allowed to happen, wrong for so many reasons!

# EA — BryCee12 2009-09-24 01:16

But didn't EA already threaten to stop supporting SONY if they added cross-game chat? remember that? so i believe that if M$ does buy them, all the EA games will be exclusives..

Ohh well 2K seems very good at sports games anyway, don't forget about them

BryCee12

# . — Solid Snicker 2009-09-24 02:49

Bill Gates is one greedy motherf**ker if he's behind all this, makes me sick how much money he has, and he just keeps wanting more and more, if I was in his shoes I would give loads of money to a needy cause or something, greedy bastard

# I agree. — GUNBEHINDTHESUN 2009-09-24 02:53

I wish they would make a new Road Rash game with high production value. I liked the PS1 versions. Man I hope they put those games on the PSN soon too.

# Almost every game — PSNDonutDude 2009-09-24 03:12

Almost every game I have has the little EA simble without a publisher the games are screwed

# Win/win — haragog 2009-09-24 03:35

I have 20 and so games for my ps3, and none, I repeat none of them have the stupid EA logo (I had HPGOW I think but offered it (I couldn't ask for money for it...It just seemed wrong)....EA sux

So I understand the sports would be difficult for some...but with fifa, I think most people now buy PES mostly...and madden, that's just for the US...so don't give a crap of a stupid reremake...just play the old ones...(not that it wouldn't impact sony)

I'm mostly happy with the awesome exclusive PS3 games, and third parties...like assassins creed (now that would be a mind blowing blow if it were to be taken from us).

There's not a single game (exclusive) I can remember in the xbox that I crave...

So it's a win win for me...

If you really want it, just keep it, I'll keep mine...

# just to clarify: — Silver-Tiger 2009-09-24 04:03

if it comes to rehashing old franchises, Activision is just as bad as EA.

# Doesn't anybody get it. — HIMFan 2009-09-24 08:37

It's not about exclusivity at all. It's kind of the same evidence as the fact that there are Sony chips and peices in 360s and vise versa, every time Microsoft sells a 360 Sony gets a very tiny piece of the pie. Well, this is the same sorta thing. For example, if Microsoft bought EA, there wouldn't be any changes at all. Microsoft would leave the games being pushed to the other consoles (PSP, DS,DSi, Wii, PS3,Mac,iPhone/iPod Touch) because they would be making money across all of those. And they'll never have to worry about they're system losing a "console war" at all cause they're still making more profit off of games that are on every other system. Not to mention all of the first party games on the 360.

# yep — Ezekial 2009-09-24 09:50

@nate443556: Unfortunately there is no edit button, so pressing submit before rereading what you typed to see if it's even a actual sentence is not reversible. Only the last sentence was bad.

I did a hell of a lot better then Stevo Style's post, I can't even read what he said.

Who cares about the story line for call of duty? The main selling point of the game is the online game play. How is the story line in Fifa?

# BUUUUT — Navani 2009-09-24 10:07

they could limit the content that goes to other consoles.. by giving themselves tons of exclusives, almost to the point where it's a whole new game.. or something. You know?

# thats it! — BigsmokeSA 2009-09-24 12:58

I'm buying microsoft stock. If this merge is true.....

# hmm.. — unggoy 2009-09-24 13:10

no rock band games for the ps3 then?.. this is so not happening.. f-ck MS!!..

# @solid — jabbaface 2009-09-24 13:50

Are you retarded?

1. HE IS F**KING RETIRED!

2. He runs one of the biggest foundations for the needy... http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

3. Your probably some poor f**k that thinks all the money in the world should go to u! Bill Gates worked for his money! SO GET A JOB! Also I'm not a spots game fan but i still am against this! my ps fanboyism is kicking in!

# @ Musev — jabbaface 2009-09-24 13:54

communism may sound better on paper, but it blows irl. F**king commy!

# Nintendo merge... — jabbaface 2009-09-24 14:03

Didn't they try to do that a while ago? and out of it came the playstation!!!! which stole square, konami, etc from nintendo! I want to see the PSWII! it just sounds funny :)

# . — Solid Snicker 2009-09-24 17:27

jeez so i didn't exactly do research into what i said, and no i'm not a "poor f**k" and i'm far from someone who wants all the money in the world. Think about stuff before you get angry at someone and judge them. I'm glad he does run a foundation.

But yeah, who is behind all this then? Who runs Microsoft now? Please answer nicely because i'm a retard and don't know any better.

# ... — NathanDrake 2009-09-25 01:55

I doubt it's true but it would be bad if it was.

Burnout Paradise was published by EA and it's still easily my favorite racing game ever.

# I doubt this will happen — jmak0 2009-10-06 12:00

What does EA have to gain from this besides short-term profit? If they limit their market to Microsoft, they will be having far less profit in the future. For EA to grow, they need the support of Sony and Nintendo. If they go with MS, it's a very foolish thing to do, I don't know why they'd want to since they have so much power at the moment... who would want to abdicate to Microsoft anyway? They don't exactly have a reputation for making the best products in the world.

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