After decades of squandering and killing its internal game divisions, entertainment behemoth Disney is looking to acquire a massive games studio on the scale of Electronic Arts.
In recent years, Disney has licensed out its IP to major game studios instead of developing titles in-house. This has resulted in brilliant titles such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor as well as infamous duds such as the now-dead Marvel’s Avengers.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Disney CEO Bob Iger has been asked by other executives to investigate the acquisition of a massive games company on the scale of EA. Reportedly, executives want the studio to become one of the biggest games companies as well as a cinematic giant.
Disney’s internally proposed acquisition of EA comes after the major American gaming brand put out the call for potential buyers. The EA Sports FC publisher was looking for new owners, but has since changed its mind following strong sales of its Star Wars title and its new EA Sports FC becoming its best selling new IP.
“We’re soon to be the largest standalone independent developer and publisher of interactive entertainment in the world,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in a recent investors call. “I think we’re growing across platforms, we’re growing across business models, and we’re growing across geographies. And in a world where gaming is becoming more important to the lives of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who will be the leading generation in terms of consumption, entertainment for the future, I don’t think we could be in a stronger position as a standalone company.”
Prior to licensing out its IP to other game developers, Disney used to have its own Disney Game Studios brand including beloved devs such as Lucasarts. However, after worse than predicted game sales, Disney axed its entire gaming brand.
Currently, Disney has licensed out both Star Wars and Marvel properties to numerous studios. This has led to the possibly canceled Star Wars: KOTOR remake as well as the upcoming Black Panther/Captain America game.
Disney and EA have yet to officially comment on the potential of an acquisition.
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