Does EA own PopCap?
In recent times, there has been a lot of debate around game development companies and their ownership structure. This article aims to shed some light on a specific question that has piqued the interest of gaming enthusiasts everywhere: Does EA own PopCap?
Direct Answer
As of now, PopCap is owned by Electronic Arts (EA) due to a merger back in 2011. This significant merge was announced on July 13, 2011, when Electronic Arts announced that it would be purchasing a Swedish company called PopCap. After successful completion of the deal in which EA acquired PopCap games for $750 million. Subsequently, PopCap’s development operations were merged into the already existing EA Studios (Now known as EA Worldwide Studios)
Why did EA acquire PopCap?
PopCap became an attractive target for Electronic Arts due to its successful range of franchise, including Bejeweled, Plants vs. Zombies and Plants vs. Zombies (Plants vs. Zombies as the most popular game across pop culture). PopCap stood out for its unique game dynamics like the combination of casual and hardcore, bringing new players to the fold at an incredible rate. According to an interview with CEO Jim Vessella,
EA picked PopCap specifically because of its games appeal and their ability to deliver both creativity and consistency. We liked EA’s commitment to supporting **PvZ and Bejewelled as well as enabling to scale our games and services globally***.
Merits of the Acquisition
<ul>
<li>• With this acquisition, EA expanded its offering of casual games and introduced titles to new audiences.</li>
<li>• Provided access to PopCap employees’ expertise in creating puzzle video games and their knowledge to combine various gameplay elements.</li>
</ul>Downfall of the Acquisition
One significant drawback of the acquisition came soon after the deal was settled i.e., the sudden increase competition. EA’s new competition for PopCap game would increase, which the pop gamers, who had so greatly admired the PopCap unique **independent game development nature (i.e., their passionate about their work due, free from corporate ties.*** Some fans worried whether creativity would be stifled to achieve EA’s main strategic objectives.
Before, during, and after the Merger
From humble beginnings in 2000 when Rob Stegle, John Vechey, and Brian Felperin co-founded PopCap (known for their simple arcade games like Bejewled, Peggle, and Puzzle Quest ,_), the company quickly captured minds. In 2000 only two years after founding (By the end of 2014 in particular, EA is rumored to be considering selling Plants vs. Zombies creator.
The acquisition, by June 2011, had some remarkable benefits, such as EA was about to get a new franchise at global scale. The merger and creation of the new EA Popcap franchise gave the world plants in zombie and other titles new attention, the company has achieved several new milestones.
Who really owns PopCap, Really?
In summary, Electronic Arts had acquired PopCap to own it, it doesn’t matter how; both EA and PopCap stand equal today. Popcap owned PopCap games before Popcap and EA combined.
What was the reason behind this union then? It was their long history of making super-duper games and EA needing diversity to increase their portfolio of Pop cap and Electronic Arts combined efforts under a single roof.
And while rumors swirled around them of breaking ties, the Pop cap staff’s passion and Pop **Casual game popularity, in the end, no Pop cap games have since dropped or been canceled with out much fanfare by anyone.