Video game publisher EA made an announcement today, stating that they have reached an agreement to purchase one of the leading casual games providers, PopCap Games, for $650 million plus shares in the company.
If you aren’t familiar with PopCap Games, it is still quite likely that you’ve at least heard of some of their games. Plants vs. Zombies has made its way from PC to consoles and even handhelds with its highly addictive gameplay. And, believe it or not, but my own grandmother is hooked on some of their titles – namely Bejeweled and Zuma.
Titles you can find on both the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade (for those of you that don’t get into PC games) include the aforementioned Zuma, Plants vs. Zombies and ever-popular Peggle.
“PopCap has proven they have the right people and creative culture to sustain this success,” John Riccitiello, EA’s chief executive, said. “And unlike other companies trapped on a single platform, PopCap IP has achieved success in crossing platforms to smartphones, tablets, PC and social networks.”
EA will be shelling out $650 million plus an additional $100 million in stock and multi-year earn-out. It’s a pricey deal but it will definitely help the gaming giant break into the casual market like a freight train, if they play their cards right.
