Update (Fri 26th Aug, 2022 17:00 BST): Earlier today, a report began circling on USA Today (with GLHF sources) that Amazon had made a formal bid to acquire EA, but a few hours later, CNBC suggested that Amazon wasn't planning to make a bid for the company.
So, which is it?!
We don't know for sure, but it appears to be the latter at the time of writing.
USA Today has since added the following note to their rumour report from this morning:
"Earlier today, GLHF — a gaming/e-sports outlet and content partner of For The Win — ran a version of this story on our website that violated our editorial standards regarding the use of unnamed and unvetted sources. We have updated this story to remove all mention of those sources. "
You can check out the video that CNBC posted below.
We'll obviously let you know if there are any further developments on this story!
What do you make of this? Let us know down in the comments section below.
[source ftw.usatoday.com]
Comments 40
If this is the case no wonder they announced this ....this no one noticed on any of the games sites
https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/blogs/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/2022/08/alexa-game-control-august-2022.html
Not sure what to think of this - it might be fine, with Amazon running it as-is, or they might actually try something silly with Luna or their new PC launcher...
Does explain why so many big EA games have been free on their PC launcher recently.
One thing it might mean is EA Play leaving Game Pass Ultimate once the contract expires (although it may become a Prime benefit hopefully that applies on consoles too?!) so MS might need to add Ubisoft+ instead or do something else to keep the value of Ultimate up...
Primarily the only games I'm concerned for are the new Mass Effect and probably the new Dragon's Age - to be honest EA hasn't made many other must-play games for me recently, I enjoyed SW Jedi: Fallen Order but it wasn't amazing...
@Widey85 I would just add star wars jedi survivor but yeah, not much left that I care about.
Oh god no. This is what I’ve been afraid of.
Yup, here we are folks. Companies with zero interest and care for games/gaming buying game services/companies only to profit from them. I'm only interested in Mass Effect and Dead Space as far as EA is concerned, but the disappearance of Fifa from Game Pass will hurt it.
Wow what a crazy year for gaming
Yup this is why it’s better when it’s Microsoft, Sony… or Nintendo. We shall see what happens but… here we go!
In before the “aT lEaSt ItS nOt MiCrOsOfT” from certain people.
Haha it’s like EA scraped the bottom of the barrel to find a buyer, they were so desperate to be bought out. I only hope it’s EA access stays on Game Pass and that the rip off mentality culture of EA is changed.
@Martsmall I noticed Alexa Amazon was under one of the game announcements on Thursday I think it was as a platform the game was coming to. I wish I could remember what that game was
@Bleachedsmiles dead island 2
You can change weapons and call the zombies ,stuff like that
At Gamescom 2022, game developer Deep Silver announced the launch of the much-loved zombie saga Dead Island 2 featuring Alexa Game Control. With Alexa Game Control in Dead Island 2, players can use their voice to access in-game features like navigation (by saying “where is the nearest workbench,”) manipulate zombie hordes (by saying “hey zombie”) and much more.
Says pc and console based
When was the last time EA made a new GOOD game that wasn't a Remaster? I can't even remember
@Martsmall ah yeah! I thought the mention of Alexa was odd at the time…but then they also mentioned stadia…
@Bleachedsmiles not happy with the voice controlled stuff its hard enough now with a parrot , never mind her calling zombies on me non stop
Not sure how I feel about this. I would rather have Microsoft because they already have a good business relationship with EA, not to mention EA Play is a part of GamePass.
As long as they don't mess with Mass Effect, Dragon Age, maybe I could see the benefit in the long run.
However, this begs the question if we'll have any independent publishers left in the industry?
@Martsmall it’s funny reading that considering we could do that almost 10 years ago with the Kinect
@Martsmall They’ve tried voice control gaming before…never works. They did a Tom Clancy game back on the 360. And Kinect had voice interaction with some games (I always wanted Milo to come out though).
It’s a gimmick they’ll try to win accolades for for allowing accessibility…but the reality will be more cumbersome and frustrating than accessible.
@TheRealPaperKut yeh buts it's Amazon they want all Alexa features available via console
Alexa Game Control, players can use in-game voice commands such as "swap to my best weapon" without saying the wake word "Alexa". Players also have access to Alexa features such as controlling their smart home devices, setting timers, and accessing the weather by calling with utterances like "Alexa, turn on the living room light."
I reckon the only ones to lose from this deal if it goes through will be gamepass subscribers as I can’t see EA play remaining part of the package tbh
@Bleachedsmiles yeh I remember it was splinter cell. U could whistle the enemies ,didn't take off
On the plus side we’ll probably get prime tv series of fifa.
I kid, but actually a dragon age series I’d totally go for. Mass effect too…hell, even battlefield if they made it like Band of brothers
Rumours I've seen in recent months were:
At the start of this year, I didn't really believe any rumours about any of the mega publishers - now I'm starting to believe any could be true and none of them might be independent by the end of this year?!
FYI for any mentioning Sony are Japanese so difficult to buy - the rumours seem to concern SIE or the Sony US companies, not sure if that impacts anything.
Please, no. Just...no.
@Martsmall we’re getting closer and closer to Don Mattricks xbox vision…it’s really interesting to see.
Always online - online subscription services. Console linked to smart home and devices.
Hardware/software regular updates/patches
Console listening.
Can’t trade in games - online subscription services. Digital sales out selling physical. Digital only consoles.
Tv tv tv - halo tv show. Sonic movies. Mario, Minecraft movies. Every Sony ip getting a tv show…
Don Mattrick the new messiah
I think this rumour is bs ,I'm hoping anyway not cause of the actual takeover , I just don't want voice controlled games
It's supposedly off:
https://twitter.com/Nibellion/status/1563135370002214912
But it's possible that's just the negotiation taking longer?
Either way, it might signal to others to get in for EA - so it could end up with Apple which would be even worse...
With Prime get same day delivery on your micro transactions. Non prime members can get free delivery of their micro transactions if they spend £20 on their order but you will get them in 2 to 3 days.
Your Amazon delivery driver will take good care of your micro transactions. Throwing your package against your door before ringing your door bell and buggering off faster than you can open the door to see the mangled remains of your parcel lying on your door mat.
Welcome to the world of Amazon/EA...
@uptownsoul it was about having the Xbox as an ‘all in one entertainment system’ - which is exactly what Amazon are after right now.
But they also wanted to branch out with tv shows - they even had a dedicated section talking about the halo series at the time
And you ain’t making no physical game trades when on a subscription or buying a digital console.
We’re getting there. Just a different route
Amazon purchasing them makes a lot of sense, they already have a well established subscription services and own some interesting ip's, plus have a new gaming service which they could combine with amazon prime, acquiring EA with the popular sports franchises they do plus juggernauts like mass effect and dragon age would make amazon prime a must have.
The battle of the subscription services is going to intensify, and this would also mean no more EA access for playstation and xbox.
Hmm well it ain't happening then according to CNBC, so it looks like nobody wants to buy EA as apparently Apple has also pulled out of its talks lol!!.. no one wants the poison chalice that is EA.
@uptownsoul No way! You’re totally telling me things I didn’t know here! 🤯
@uptownsoul I will say I liked that EA play was on gamepass but mostly because I wantef to play stuff on their backlog (ME3 and Andromeda) DA I, SW JFO, the one with parkour (cannot remember the name lol) but moving forward I don't expect much from them
@uptownsoul heh no, I don’t really think Don Mattrick is the new messiah.
And I’m well aware movies on licence games existed before today - bob hoskins wearing little dungarees is a memory you don’t quickly forget.
I’m also aware subscriptions services lived and died before gamepass
It was just a little tongue-in cheek at the observation of where gaming is today compared to where it was this time last gen.
Today being stories of EA possibly being bought by Amazon who want us using an Alexa device for gaming… where everything, even you home, is all in one device. That listens to you.
Today being yet another story about Sonys focus on putting its IPs to tv
Today how we have far more acceptance that our consoles/software need to be online.
How digital sales are higher than physical. And how we’re all daily praising subscription services…making the backlash over not being able to trade games more moot by the day.
Like I said, we’re getting there… just taking a different route.
Praise Dom Mattrick…oh Lorde
The redheaded step child of gaming getting the redheaded step child of acquisition offers sounds about right.
And it would suck.
@Balta666 You mean Mirror's Edge?
Good game, imo!
They way things are going will there be anyone left once all these large corporations buy everybody else up.
@HarmanSmith yep that one lol. Not my cup of tea tbh as I feel the game in third person would be a lot better but I understand they wanted the immersion of the experience.
I have never really had any interest in their games for years ever since they went full sports live service only games, i haven't purchased an EA game for a while, since need for speed carbon/most wanted 2005 and FIFA street 2, but if Amazon ever did end up buying them it's better then tencent, I suppose.
Given the update it may not be true. The skeptic in me cant help but think this rumour has been partially engineered by someone within EA to drive other parties to come forward with interest.
And you'd believe THIS news outlet why? It's like NASA doing a games review on a first person card shooter.
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