Rumor: Microsoft Interested in EA

by pastapadre
Posted September 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 am

microsoft

Yet another rumor hitting the rounds today as The Street reports there is some chatter that Microsoft may be looking at purchasing Electronic Arts. The EA stock has risen slightly with the talk as the catalyst. This rumor seems less likely than the one about EA acquiring THQ but it is worth keeping an eye on because of the ramifications of such a deal.

This would certainly be a huge coup for MS if they were to acquire EA as that would give them the ability to have the games as exclusives for the Xbox 360 and future consoles if they chose to do so. Many of the EA Sports titles could become exclusive, however that would not be the case with all of them due to the specifics of exclusive licenses. The NFL contract requires that their game be released on all platforms so Madden would remain on the PS3 and others. This could also result in the long awaited return of the MVP Baseball franchise which would be a welcome sight for 360 owners.

Tags:

t daley

Microsoft + EA = EPIC FAIL
t daley

Microsoft + EA = EPIC FAIL
karim

This is great news. Microsoft would surely right the ship of the downward spiral the sports games at EA seem to be taking.
karim

This is great news. Microsoft would surely right the ship of the downward spiral the sports games at EA seem to be taking.
t daley

One last Example. Remember Sega. They wanted to get out of the hardware business for some time but they never made any of their games available to there competitors while they were still making consoles. It wasn't until the eventual failure of the Dreamcast that Sega officially restructured into a sofware development house and strictly published games for all systems.

You can bet that microsoft wont' release any EA franchise game on aything other than a xbox 360 or whatever new console they come up with.
t daley

One last Example. Remember Sega. They wanted to get out of the hardware business for some time but they never made any of their games available to there competitors while they were still making consoles. It wasn't until the eventual failure of the Dreamcast that Sega officially restructured into a sofware development house and strictly published games for all systems.

You can bet that microsoft wont' release any EA franchise game on aything other than a xbox 360 or whatever new console they come up with.
t daley

anyone remember microsoft sports games. They are horrible. Did it ever occur to you that Microsoft will acquire EA to dismantle it and thus give the return to microsoft sports again. Ewwwwwww!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

The Links 2004 was actually good. However, the other games were downright puke….If they allowed the developers at EA to continue to do their thing, I think the world would be solid. Not to mention, the ability to create an MLB game (cough…MVP Baseball….cough) because it would be developed by a first party company….

It would be hard for me to see some of the great titles (Madden is exempt because of the NFL deal to keep the game on all consoles) like NHL and FIFA limited to one console. I own both systems (prefer the 360 for sports games) and I would hate to see PS3 owners get shafted out of options.

http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

As I state below, they wouldn't stop selling to the other consoles. It would only cut into their own revenue streams.
http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

Oh yeah.. I heard Links was good, too. Though I never actually played it.

http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

uh.. no. Dismantling EA makes NO sense whatsoever.

And actually NFL Fever 2004 wasn't that bad of a game (the other MS games were apparently not very good, though). It was just greatly outshined, as was everything else, by NFL 2k4/5.

t daley

anyone remember microsoft sports games. They are horrible. Did it ever occur to you that Microsoft will acquire EA to dismantle it and thus give the return to microsoft sports again. Ewwwwwww!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

The Links 2004 was actually good. However, the other games were downright puke….If they allowed the developers at EA to continue to do their thing, I think the world would be solid. Not to mention, the ability to create an MLB game (cough…MVP Baseball….cough) because it would be developed by a first party company….

It would be hard for me to see some of the great titles (Madden is exempt because of the NFL deal to keep the game on all consoles) like NHL and FIFA limited to one console. I own both systems (prefer the 360 for sports games) and I would hate to see PS3 owners get shafted out of options.

http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

As I state below, they wouldn't stop selling to the other consoles. It would only cut into their own revenue streams.
http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

Oh yeah.. I heard Links was good, too. Though I never actually played it.

http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

uh.. no. Dismantling EA makes NO sense whatsoever.

And actually NFL Fever 2004 wasn't that bad of a game (the other MS games were apparently not very good, though). It was just greatly outshined, as was everything else, by NFL 2k4/5.

http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

EA would not stop the revenue streams that come in from Sony & Nintendo. That doesn't even make sense. Both Microsoft AND Sony LOSE money on each hardware sale. This would be more about selling SOFTware. So I really wouldn't worry about exclusives.

If anything..maybe it would give Microsoft a little leverage to finally get that much needed blue-ray player for the Xbox.
http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

EA would not stop the revenue streams that come in from Sony & Nintendo. That doesn't even make sense. Both Microsoft AND Sony LOSE money on each hardware sale. This would be more about selling SOFTware. So I really wouldn't worry about exclusives.

If anything..maybe it would give Microsoft a little leverage to finally get that much needed blue-ray player for the Xbox.
Bob Awesome

As long as I can still get NHL games on the PS3, I really don't care. I still think Microsoft and EA are evil though.
Bob Awesome

As long as I can still get NHL games on the PS3, I really don't care. I still think Microsoft and EA are evil though.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jonathanglapion jonathanglapion

whatever you just rambled like a damn gorilla….. english dumb ass.

sdot

OMG i'm sooo offen….wait……NO ….NO I'M NOT

E.A.D MA

NOTHIN U CAN SAY GONNA CHANGE WUT I DO

I DON'T CATER 2 B!T@He$

HA HA HA HA HA

http://intensedebate.com/people/dagamesta dagamesta

U gun eet dat kurnbred?

ahhhh…..hels yaaa!

sdot

WHITE PEOPLE HAV DA W-E-A-K-E-S-T JOKES

SERIOUSLY YA"LL JUD AIN'T FUNNY 95% of da TIME GLAD I'M NOT WHITE

HA HA HA HA HA HA

http://intensedebate.com/people/dagamesta dagamesta

I'm sure glad my skin dosen't look like it's covered with SHIT!!!!

Now what you big lipped, smelly, musty breath porch monkey!?
sdot

AWWW MA U MAD CUZ I AIN'T FEELIN U MA
LMAO HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

DA THINGS SHORTIES SAY 2 GET A10TION

BUT SERIOUSLY I NEVA BIN 1 2 CATCH FEELINS OVA BITTIES

http://intensedebate.com/people/jonathanglapion jonathanglapion

whatever you just rambled like a damn gorilla….. english dumb ass.

sdot

OMG i'm sooo offen….wait……NO ….NO I'M NOT

E.A.D MA

NOTHIN U CAN SAY GONNA CHANGE WUT I DO

I DON'T CATER 2 B!T@He$

HA HA HA HA HA

http://intensedebate.com/people/dagamesta dagamesta

U gun eet dat kurnbred?

ahhhh…..hels yaaa!

sdot

WHITE PEOPLE HAV DA W-E-A-K-E-S-T JOKES

SERIOUSLY YA"LL JUD AIN'T FUNNY 95% of da TIME GLAD I'M NOT WHITE

HA HA HA HA HA HA

http://intensedebate.com/people/dagamesta dagamesta

I'm sure glad my skin dosen't look like it's covered with SHIT!!!!

Now what you big lipped, smelly, musty breath porch monkey!?
sdot

AWWW MA U MAD CUZ I AIN'T FEELIN U MA
LMAO HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

DA THINGS SHORTIES SAY 2 GET A10TION

BUT SERIOUSLY I NEVA BIN 1 2 CATCH FEELINS OVA BITTIES

Anonymous

well anyway, it looks like the rumor was false according to this article:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/1800…

a microsoft spokesman has called the rumor false.
Anonymous

well anyway, it looks like the rumor was false according to this article:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/1800…

a microsoft spokesman has called the rumor false.
http://intensedebate.com/people/deepen03 deepen03

well anyway, it looks like the rumor was false according to this article:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/1800…

a microsoft spokesman has called the rumor false.
http://intensedebate.com/people/deepen03 deepen03

well anyway, it looks like the rumor was false according to this article:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/1800…

a microsoft spokesman has called the rumor false.
Anonymous

well anyway, it looks like the rumor was false according to this article, so so much for this whole article and all of our bickering and arguing:

” target=”_blank”>http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/1800...

a microsoft spokesman has called the rumor false.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/deepen03 deepen03

well anyway, it looks like the rumor was false according to this article, so so much for this whole article and all of our bickering and arguing:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/1800…

a microsoft spokesman has called the rumor false.
the truth

Karma is a bitch…
the truth

Karma is a bitch…
Big Baller 23

i dont give a fuck. as long as their is a good madden every year
Big Baller 23

i dont give a fuck. as long as their is a good madden every year
Think about it

If that happens you will get charged for everything under the sun. Microsoft is pure wicked greed. You will get charged for Online, Online Franchises, alternate jerseys, any and all DLC including rosters. Bad idea.
Think about it

If that happens you will get charged for everything under the sun. Microsoft is pure wicked greed. You will get charged for Online, Online Franchises, alternate jerseys, any and all DLC including rosters. Bad idea.
Jonathon

people are making this about PS3 and 360…but forgetting about the impact this could have on Nintendo…or rather the impact that Nintendo could have on all of this…Nintendo is the most successful video game company of all-time…they have the resources and the fan support to make a big play if need be…if the future of the video game industry is console companies purchasing developers for their own exclusives, i personally have to believe that Nintendo would come out victorious in the long run…
Jonathon

yes, everyone is making this about sports…but if Microsoft buys EA they suddenly own RockBand, The Sims, Battlefield, Comand and Conquer, as well as become the distributor for companies such as Valve (Half-Life/Portal/etc.)…not sure if they would all become Microsoft exlusives, but the potential would be there…then you would have to wonder if Sony wouldn't make an effort to buy the rights to the likes of Activision, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Square Enix, Konami, LucasArts…the list could go on and on…suddenly you have to buy both systems in order to play the games that you want to play…this is a slippery slope that will only end in disaster…i don't have a problem with Microsoft buying EA ,it would be a good business move…but the ramifications from that deal could lead to the destruction of the industry…there would be a winner at some point, but video gamers would suffer for several years as the war plays out…
Jonathon

yes, everyone is making this about sports…but if Microsoft buys EA they suddenly own RockBand, The Sims, Battlefield, Comand and Conquer, as well as become the distributor for companies such as Valve (Half-Life/Portal/etc.)…not sure if they would all become Microsoft exlusives, but the potential would be there…then you would have to wonder if Sony wouldn't make an effort to buy the rights to the likes of Activision, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Square Enix, Konami, LucasArts…the list could go on and on…suddenly you have to buy both systems in order to play the games that you want to play…this is a slippery slope that will only end in disaster…i don't have a problem with Microsoft buying EA ,it would be a good business move…but the ramifications from that deal could lead to the destruction of the industry…there would be a winner at some point, but video gamers would suffer for several years as the war plays out…
Jonathon

people are making this about PS3 and 360…but forgetting about the impact this could have on Nintendo…or rather the impact that Nintendo could have on all of this…Nintendo is the most successful video game company of all-time…they have the resources and the fan support to make a big play if need be…if the future of the video game industry is console companies purchasing developers for their own exclusives, i personally have to believe that Nintendo would come out victorious in the long run…
Joe prehn

As long as they keep makin NBA live I don’t care. Check out this interview.

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/blog/
Joe prehn

As long as they keep makin NBA live I don’t care. Check out this interview.

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/blog/
t daley

Bill gates wont even allow his own family to own an IPOD. He forces them to use MS crap. What do you think. He is about eliminating the competition. His goal is to rid the gaming market of Wii and PS3.

So yes, i think he is that dumb.
t daley

Bill gates wont even allow his own family to own an IPOD. He forces them to use MS crap. What do you think. He is about eliminating the competition. His goal is to rid the gaming market of Wii and PS3.

So yes, i think he is that dumb.
cam

microsoft is going power crazy! Bill Gates is a douche.
cam

microsoft is going power crazy! Bill Gates is a douche.
kels

Wow all of act like little kids arguing whos better scooby vs batman damn fools all of talking about monopoly or microsoft and ea are trying to take over the world buthow many of you have vista and from all those time i look up and its more xbox fans than anybody would wish for but sense its ea now you hate microsoft and throwing that monopoly word around like free candy you guys need to stop all this bashing about ea like i said last time if all of you can do better and create a better football game year after year or basketball or boxing sense all of you dumba sses was complaing about no button controls on fnr4 stop bashing and go fuck ur girlfriends more mucks.
kels

Wow all of act like little kids arguing whos better scooby vs batman damn fools all of talking about monopoly or microsoft and ea are trying to take over the world buthow many of you have vista and from all those time i look up and its more xbox fans than anybody would wish for but sense its ea now you hate microsoft and throwing that monopoly word around like free candy you guys need to stop all this bashing about ea like i said last time if all of you can do better and create a better football game year after year or basketball or boxing sense all of you dumba sses was complaing about no button controls on fnr4 stop bashing and go fuck ur girlfriends more mucks.
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