EA Acquire Playfish Casual Games Firm

EA has announced the acquisition of social games firm Playfish for $300 million, split between $275 million in cash, and $25 million in a equity retention arrangement. The firm will operate under the EA Interactive division. SVP and GM of EA Interactive Barry Cottle commented:

“Social gaming, with its emphasis on friends and community, is seeing tremendous growth and this is the right time to invest to strengthen our participation in this space."

Playfish CEO and co-founder Kristian Segerstrale commented:

“The industry is undergoing dramatic transformation and joining EA is the ideal opportunity for us to push forward our goals to lead in the social entertainment evolution on a faster and much larger scale."

Source: Develop