EA buys Bioware & Pandemic Studios

EA is at it again… sorry, but to this Geek Girl, this is not good news.

Electronic Arts Inc said on Thursday it is buying two video game studios for more than $800 million in a deal that fills a weak spot in its games lineup by adding role-playing and action titles.

Under the deal, EA will acquire BioWare Corp and Pandemic Studios, privately held firms that have been partners since a 2005 deal brought them together under VG Holding Group with backing from private equity firm Elevation Partners.

BioWare is the maker of a series of critically acclaimed and best-selling role-playing games, including "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" and the "Baldur’s Gate" series.

Pandemic makes military-style action and shooting games such as "Mercenaries", "Star Wars Battlefront" and "Full Spectrum Warrior."

Source: Reuters