Could EA be acquired in the next big gaming takeover?
As Microsoft’s domination of the gaming industry continues, could EA be next on their list?
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Microsoft are truly winning the battle of the gaming behemoths at this point, following 2021’s acquisition of Bethesda, and now their takeover of Activision Blizzard. So who’s next on their hit list? Or could Sony fight back with a big acquisition of their own?
CNN Business reported on January 18th, 2022, that both Electronic Arts and Ubisoft’s shares rose as the Microsoft announcement was made – while Square Enix’s stock price also increased – as people seemed to think these dominant standalone gaming companies could be next. There is currently no reason to believe that any of these big names is even willing to sell at this point, but with pockets as deep as Microsoft’s enveloping the industry, it might not be long.
Microsoft’s existing relationship with Electronic Arts
EA and Microsoft are already in bed together, with EA Play offered to Xbox Game Pass owners as part of their subscription. This means that Xbox gamers already have access to a massive library of EA titles simply for being team Xbox. There’s no exclusivity here, however, as anyone can subscribe to the standalone EA Play service – it is simply included free-of-charge to those already paying for Game Pass. This existing relationship between the two gaming giants, though, could suggest that EA might be the next target in Microsoft’s crosshairs.
Could Sony make a play for EA?
With PlayStation trailing behind Xbox at this point, it could be that Sony comes from behind with the next big takeover. However, Microsoft has more money to throw around than Sony does, so they’ll likely make it difficult for Sony to contend.
Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard raises a multitude of questions regarding Sony anyway. The acquisition leaves Microsoft as the new owners of PlayStation icons Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, so the crossover between the console companies is closer than ever, and the future between the two will likely remain unclear until the Activision deal is closed in 2024.
Who owns Ubisoft and Square Enix, and could they be next?
As mentioned above, both Ubisoft and Square Enix saw an increase in their stock prices as well, as investors speculate which companies could be next. These are two of the biggest players in the industry that still remain under their own ownership, with French company Ubisoft still primarily owned by its founders, the Guillemot family. Square Enix, meanwhile, is still owned by Enix founder Yasuhiro Fukushima, following the company’s merger with Square in 2003.
Both Ubisoft and Square Enix are the owners of some of the world’s biggest gaming franchises. Ubisoft helped create the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six franchise and Assassin’s Creed games, while Square Enix is responsible for the likes of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. Either company, therefore, could be targeted next by Microsoft or Sony in the massive gaming takeover that seems to be taking place, while Nintendo’s relationship with Square Enix could throw a whole new spanner in the works.
Who knows what’s next in this constant evolution of the gaming industry. All we can do at the moment is speculate about what might come, but there’s no denying Microsoft’s epic bank balance leaves them able to maintain this domination.
