Video game industry media was sent into a tailspin earlier today, August 26, after a USA Today report claimed Amazon was planning to make an offer to purchase publishing giant EA. Conflicting reports have now emerged from CNBC, however, that say there are no acquisition plans in place.
USA Today’s report arrived from Swedish press agency Good Luck Have Fun, who claimed its sources were aware of an imminent formal offer from Amazon to acquire the FIFA 23 and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order publisher.
Not long after, however, CNBC anchor David Faber said on air (below) that there are currently no plans from Amazon to acquire EA. “I have talked to some people who would actually know if there was something going on, and they say there’s nothing going on,” Faber said. “These are people who would be involved.”
Amazon is not going to make a bid for Electronic Arts, sources tell CNBC’s @DavidFaber. Shares of $EA surged earlier on a report citing a “rumor.” pic.twitter.com/k7wk0Fy7xv
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) August 26, 2022
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EA shares had climbed 15% in premarket trading following the USA Today report but have since lowered, and at time of writing are up around 6%.
EA have been at the centre of several acquisition rumours in recent months as the video game industry overall has seen them become commonplace. EA CEO Andrew Wilson said earlier in August that the company would be open to the possibility of being acquired but it also that EA couldn’t be “in a stronger position as a standalone company”.
IGN has contacted Amazon and EA for comment.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
Source: IGN Video Games All
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