In a recent Polygon article that examines Microsoft’s struggles to bring exclusive games to the Xbox One, it has been allegedly reported that the console manufacturer is attempting to acquire a major video game studio. Among the names mentioned were Valve, PUBG Corp, and Electronic Arts.
Polygon states that a “reliable source close to Microsoft” have indicated that Microsoft has been having discussions regarding the practical steps that would lead to an acquisition of Electronic Arts. The article says that Microsoft has about $130 billion in their cash reserve. By comparison, EA is believed to be worth about $35 billion dollars. While that does mean that Microsoft would have to pay a tidy sum to acquire EA outright, it’s not as if they don’t have the money to do so.
The whole fiasco is really hard to believe as changing EA owned IPs to Xbox and PC exclusives could in fact adversely affect the revenue they bring in. While EA has had a rough year of it between Mass Effect: Andromeda and Star Wars: Battlefront II‘s controversies, it seems like a corporate buyout, even by Microsoft seems a bit of a stretch. Either parties is yet to respond to the rumor.