U.S video games publisher Electronic Arts has acquired PopCap Games, a leading provider of hit casual games like Plants vs. Zombies, Peggle, Zuma and Bejeweled in an estimated $750M deal.
EA CEO John Riccitiello said in an email sent to all employees that acquiring PopCap would extend the leadership established since the investment of their flagship casual site, Pogo. Riccitiello said the acquisition would add to the momentum on the mobile and social platforms and accelerate the company towards their goal of achieving $1 billion in digital business in FY12.
PopCap is one of the largest games providers for mobile phones, tablets, computers and social network sites, with more than 150m games installed and played worldwide on platforms such as Facebook, RenRen, Google, iPhone, iPad and Android.
PopCap adds to the EA portfolio some of the best casual intellectual property in gaming. – hit games that are growing fast on mobile and social platforms. PopCap have proven their ability to create new hits on the fastest growing platforms – mobile, tablets, PC, online and Facebook.
While most of its games are free-to-play, the company is also active in the online gambling arena, with real-money versions of its hugely popular Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies games developed by the likes of GTECH G2 amongst others.
EA is number one on mobile and smart phones and are number two on social network games. EA just launched a direct-to-consumer platform – Origin – which is backed up by their Nucleus registration system that now has more than 125 million users.
When the sale is complete, PopCap will become a part of EA Interactive – led by Barry Cottle.
