Unconfirmed: EA Looking for Buyers
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EA's largest rival, Activision Blizzard, also explored a sale earlier this year. Although it didn't result in a deal, Activision parent Vivendi shopped its 61 percent stake in the videogame giant, which was worth around $8 billion.Though the sources cited in the article are anonymous, it's no surprise that EA are looking for a change-up after Star Wars: The Old Republic's multi-million-dollar failure, 38 Studios' bankruptcy, and their inability to compete with some of the other big non-RPG titles like Activision's yearly Call of Duty releases. Does the prospect of new ownership spell good things for the future, or will we see EA take off in a radically different path?
Like its rivals, 30-year-old EA has been challenged by the changes roiling the traditional gaming business. Sales of hardware consoles and software have slumped along with the rise in popularity of mobile and casual games that users can play for free online. Consumers are also buying fewer $60 games.
US sales of new videogames, consoles and accessories fell 20 percent in July, capping a string of declines that have plagued the industry since November.