EA launches takeover bid to own Grand Theft Auto franchise
The gaming giant makes two billion dollar bid for Take-Two - what are the implications for handheld?
We wouldn't normally bring you a corporate story such as this, but this one is a biggie. EA has issued a press release informing of its proposal to acquire publisher Take-Two Interactive. It seems a deal has been in negotiation for some time, but EA has now done public with its offer in a move to persuade Take-Two's shareholders an acquisition would be in their best interests.
If the deal goes through – and analysts are predicting that as it's in shareholders' best interests the only way it won't is if another company makes a higher bid – it will mean EA owns its EA Sports brand's biggest rival 2K Sports. Significantly, it'll also get Rockstar – and with it the Manhunt, Midnight Club and Grand Theft Auto franchises – and Firaxis, so all subsequent Sid Meier games.
Whether such a deal that further reduces the players in the video gaming industry would be a good thing for gamers is arguable. But one positive aspect for handheld gamers is that EA is more inclined to release its big franchises across all formats. So Bioshock on PSP and yearly Grand Theft Auto spin-offs for DS and PSP might suddenly not be such an unlikely prospect.
Of course, it won't automatically mean more games. It's likely that if successful, EA would decide to can 2K Sports games so it's not competing with its EA Sports series, while games such as Midnight Club, which would be going up against its own street racing franchises Burnout and Need for Speed might be stalled (not a particular loss, we'd argue).
Also, would EA want to court controversy to the same degree as Take-Two with the likes of Manhunt? This could be the final spanner in the works that means Manhunt 2 is never released in the UK. Again, not a massive issue as we found the game mostly disappointing, but it there is the danger that under the squeaky clean, family friendly EA label, further Rockstar creations (some of which are genius) may be forced to undergo a certain sanitisation. And that would be very bad indeed.
Anyway, for now Reuters has reported Take-Two isn't happy with the price on the table while EA is keeping the offer open for further consideration. We should hear more on the whole saga soon.
