BioWare/Pandemic Partnership Bought By EA
Bought Out By Former CEO's Former/New Employer
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Electronic Arts has announced that they acquired the industry's super-developer BioWare/Pandemic from Elevation Partners by purchasing VG Holding Corp., the developers' parent company. The two studios have created some of the highest selling games as well as some of the best known and long running franchises of recent times.
The purchase sees EA take over the development of ten franchises, including six that are wholly owned by VG Holdings Corp.. BioWare is currently developing Mass Effect and is in the early stages of creating a MMOG. Pandemic Studios is tackling open-world gaming with their upcoming Mercenaries 2: World in Flames for PC, PS2 (development by Pi Studios), PS3, and Xbox 360 plus other unannounced projects. Together the companies employee about 800 people across four studios.
"Pandemic Studios remains focused on attracting the best talent and creating blockbuster action games," said Josh Resnick, President and Co-founder of Pandemic Studios. "As a worldwide publishing leader, EA represents the ideal partner to bring our titles to market as global entertainment events."
"We are truly excited by John Riccitiello's new vision for EA," said Ray Muzyka, Co-founder and CEO of BioWare Corp. "This vision is consistent with BioWare's focus on crafting the highest quality story-driven games in the world. It will enable us to further the careers of the passionate, creative and hard working teams at BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Austin."
EA will pay up to $860 million if all options are taken, including $620 million in cash, with the deal expected to close by January 2008. EA CEO, and former BioWare/Pandemic CEO, John Riccitiello explained that the "acquisition fills out a gap in [EA's] genre lineup," mainly referring to the role-playing and action adventure genres as well as the MMOG space which will, with the help of Pandemic's property, allow "further expansion into the MMO space."
The purchase sees EA take over the development of ten franchises, including six that are wholly owned by VG Holdings Corp.. BioWare is currently developing Mass Effect and is in the early stages of creating a MMOG. Pandemic Studios is tackling open-world gaming with their upcoming Mercenaries 2: World in Flames for PC, PS2 (development by Pi Studios), PS3, and Xbox 360 plus other unannounced projects. Together the companies employee about 800 people across four studios.
"Pandemic Studios remains focused on attracting the best talent and creating blockbuster action games," said Josh Resnick, President and Co-founder of Pandemic Studios. "As a worldwide publishing leader, EA represents the ideal partner to bring our titles to market as global entertainment events."
"We are truly excited by John Riccitiello's new vision for EA," said Ray Muzyka, Co-founder and CEO of BioWare Corp. "This vision is consistent with BioWare's focus on crafting the highest quality story-driven games in the world. It will enable us to further the careers of the passionate, creative and hard working teams at BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Austin."
EA will pay up to $860 million if all options are taken, including $620 million in cash, with the deal expected to close by January 2008. EA CEO, and former BioWare/Pandemic CEO, John Riccitiello explained that the "acquisition fills out a gap in [EA's] genre lineup," mainly referring to the role-playing and action adventure genres as well as the MMOG space which will, with the help of Pandemic's property, allow "further expansion into the MMO space."
