UPDATE: A spokesperson for Microsoft quelled rumors that the company was interested in purchasing Electronic Arts. Late Wednesday the company said it does not plan to buy EA. “We have no plans to acquire EA,” the Microsoft spokesman said, according to a report on MarketWatch.com.
It looks like this rumor will die as fast as it started. We’ll keep you posted if we hear more information regarding this news.
*********
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: There’s big news in the world of unsubstantiated acquisition rumors. We cannot emphasis enough that this is just a rumor at this time, but according to a report from Reuters, Microsoft may be interested in purchasing Electronic Arts.
“There’s talk that Microsoft might be interested in acquiring Electronic Arts. It’s unsubstantiated chatter, but it’s out there,” said Frederic Ruffy, options strategist at WhatsTrading.com.
For any investment hounds, EA shares jumped today. We’ve asked EA for a comment and will keep you posted when they respond.
We’ll wait before we hear more information before we speculate as to how a possible EA buyout by Microsoft would impact the publisher’s release of PlayStation 3 titles.
Check back later for more information as news breaks.