EA buys PopCap for $750m

Casual games comes at a cost.

EA splashed out for popular casual game developer PopCap, acquiring the creator of Bejeweled, Plants vs. Zombies and Zuma. The deal sees EA paying $650 million in cash and $100 million in EA shares to PopCap shareholders, as well as additional earn-outs of a maximum of $500 million depending on PopCap's earnings over the next two years.

"EA and PopCap are a compelling combination," said EA CEO John Riccitiello. "PopCap's great studio talent and powerful IP add to EA's momentum and accelerate our drive towards a $1 billion digital business. EA's global studio and publishing network will help PopCap rapidly expand their business to more digital devices, more countries, and more channels."

"We picked EA because they have recast their culture around making great digital games," said David Roberts, CEO of PopCap. "By working with EA, we'll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience."

"We're in the money!"