Official: EA Acquires F1 Game Creator Codemasters in $1.2bn Bid

Electronic Arts (EA) have completed the long-anticipated takeover of F1 game developer Codemasters. The takeover was completed for 1.2 billion dollars. This will mark the union between two behemoths in their respective industries.

Codemasters have been at the forefront of giving F1 fans quality videogame content from 2009 when they launched F1 2009. They have cornered the market in not just F1 video games but also racing games in general.

Their offerings like the Dirt series and Grid have been highly rated. They have also been staples within the racing game community.

The seismic takeover gives F1 video games a much-needed boost

EA, in a statement, said “We (EA) would be positioned to bring fans a regular cadence of new and exciting racing content. This is, in addition, to reaching across more platforms and more regions of the world.”

EA CEO Andrew Wilson is happy with the acquisition. He said, in an interview, “This is the beginning of an exciting new era for racing games and content as we bring together the talented teams at Electronic Arts and Codemasters.”

“Racing fandom continues to grow worldwide, and the franchises in our combined portfolio. It will enable us to create innovative new experiences and bring more players into the excitement of cars and motorsport.”

He expects them to be an unstoppable duo in the racing games segments. He said, “Our teams will be a global powerhouse in racing entertainment, with amazing games for players on every platform, and we can’t wait to get started.”

Codemasters CEO, Frank Sagnier was similarly happy with the acquisition. He said, “Today is a landmark in Codemasters’ history, and an exciting day for our employees and players. The partnership with EA will enable our teams to take our highly-acclaimed franchises to new heights and reach a huge global audience through their player network.”

“Together we can redefine the landscape of racing games. It will allow us to create even more compelling experiences for racing fans around the world.”

What does this mean for future games?

This acquisition is a clear signal of intent from EA to dominate the racing game space with its influence. They have an offering in Need For Speed which has a steady following.

Their history in sports gaming is particularly glittering with their FIFA, Madden, NBA, NHL and UFC lines. This would give the F1 gaming sector, a much-needed shot in the arm.

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