Is the esports and gaming industry poised for its next massive business takeover? After the deal between Activision Blizzard and Microsoft and the purchase of ESL by the Savvy Gaming Group, FIFA developer EA is said to be interested in being taken over by a large corporation.
The call list for negotiations in this regard is said to be prominent: Apple, Disney, Amazon and the US cable network giant Comcast have allegedly held initial talks with the executive floor of EA.
According to a media report by the US news portal Puck, the developer of FIFA 22 is stubbornly trying to sell it. A merger is also conceivable.
Disney? Apple? Amazon?
A possible deal with the media company NBCUniversal is said to have been well advanced. The existing rights to various sporting events would definitely have played into the hands of EA.
However, the negotiations are said to have failed because the financial ideas of the two parties were too far apart.
Disney, Apple and Amazon did not respond to requests for comment. Disney in particular has numerous valuable licenses as part of its in-house sports television station ESPN.
Change of strategy at the developer of FIFA 22
According to insiders, the new efforts mean a change in strategy at EA. In recent years, the FIFA 22 publisher has invested several billion euros in other development studios in order to position itself as an autonomous media giant.
EA is responsible for successful video game series such as FIFA, Battlefield, The Sims, Need for Speed and F1. The Battle Royale Apex Legends is also part of the US company’s portfolio.