Industry rumors suggest Apple to take over EA

According to industry chatter on Wall Street, Apple may have their sights set on Electronic Arts for a company takeover. Wait, what?

It all started with a quote from The Street, a NY Wall Street news site, as various rumors suggest that Apple, the titanic computer company behind the MacBook and the popular iPhone, is looking to buy some video game property. Precisely, The Street claims that Apple is considering a company takeover of Electronic Arts, the video game publisher behind titles such as Mirror's Edge, the Madden NFL series, and the Need For Speed franchise. Uh oh.


Industry rumors suggest Apple to take over EA

Today, Need For Speed. Tommorow, the entire EA lineup?


Edge Magazine also added more evidence to Apple's growing gaming itch as a recent follow-up article from their website notes a few more additions to Apple's corporate offices: Richard Taversham, Xbox Europe's (former) senior director of business, Bob Drebin, "the creator of the Nintendo GameCube's graphics processor" and Mark Papermaster, an IBM chip designer, "also recently joined Apple as head of its iPod business".

Of course, it's no surprise that Apple is snapping up gaming industry executives, with the iPhone making huge waves in mobile gaming and several new applications dropping every day. However, that's no clear evidence that the company is looking to pull a Square Enix and start buying up companies, especially not when you ask Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter. In a recent interview with Gamasutra, he called the news "retarded" and stated that he didn't "want to start a rumor."

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter is highly skeptical of such talk, however. "Sounds retarded to me," he tells Gamasutra.

"Apple could buy Warner Music for around $3 billion, and control 20 percent of all recorded music," he says. "That makes more sense to their current business model than buying EA for more than twice that, doesn't it?"

"I don't want to start a rumor, but want to point out that Apple doesn't own any entertainment content," adds the analyst, "so I don't know why they would feel compelled to enter a new business unrelated to their current product slate."

THE VERDICT by McKinley Noble McKinley Noble's Avatar Huh. Remember when people thought Nintendo and Apple were going to merge? I think the same outcome applies to Apple taking over EA.

Comments [22]

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neji64

i hope Apple do join the gaming industry why not? Microsoft did it. it'll be good to have video gaming company who wont jump to Microsoft needs because they will cut a check. besides Apple have a lot offer there doing well with iphone and ipod touch.

EJStrat

Not gonna happen, EA's been flourishing. IT'S IN THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!

332526
ZXDChang

Hulksmash33 wrote:

Hey you never know buddy it might happen!Apple got the cash$and the power.

I agree money talks not words

The_Iceman

I thought EA buys up everyone else so they dont have to compete in the market

KarlB

What will happen to XBOX 360 games afther they do. They will only going make games for Mac and mac related platfrom. And if so. There be no football game ever again on XBOX 360 and any other non APPLE system. Becoues It be owned by APPLE.

phonzoo

Pachter, youre an idiot. Apple cannot sell music due to a lawsuit from Apple records (The Beatles' company, for those who dont know). Prime example of talking out of ass.

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