EA Purchase Bioware And Pandemic Studios

EA have further broadened their scope for the take over of the gaming industry, with their purchase two major developing studios; Bioware Corp. and Pandemic Studios.

EA will pay up to USD 620 million in cash to the stockholders of VG Holding Corp. and will issue up to an additional USD 155 million in equity to certain employees of VG Holding Corp., subject to time-based or performance-based vesting criteria.

EA will also assume outstanding VG Holding Corp. stock options and has agreed to lend VG Holding Corp. up to USD 35 million through the closing of the acquisition.

Bioware are due to release Mass Effect for the 360 this November, and will be published by Microsoft. Pandemic are currently developing Mercenaries 2 and Saboteur.