EA completes BioWare Pandemic acquisition

Electronic Arts has announced that its big-money $860m acquisition of BioWare and Pandemic holding company VG Holdings has been completed.

The two studios have now officially joined the EA fold under the EA Games label and bring ten new franchises, based on six wholly-owned IP, to the publisher. These include Mercenaries and Saboteur (pictured).

Frank Gibeau, president of the EA Games Label, will oversee the studios.

BioWare bosses and co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk have been nameds as EA VPs and co-GMs of the studio. Pandemic’s Andrew Goldman and Josh Resnick have each been named vice presidents of EA and co-general managers, while Greg Borrud has been named VP of EA and chief production officer of Pandemic.

"BioWare and Pandemic are two world-class studios
and bring strong, highly compatible cultures of creative excellence to the EA Games Label," said Gibeau in the announcement. "Their strengths in the RPG, action and adventure genres further broadens EA’s portfolio, and reinforces our commitment to creating the world’s greatest interactive entertainment."

"Our new EA partnership is already proving to be both positive and productive," added Resnick. "Pandemic prides itself upon its creative independence while being the best place for top industry talent to work. These values continue to be upheld by all levels of EA and we couldn’t be more excited about the future of our studio and our games."

BioWare’s Muzyka added: "EA has shown great respect for the creative integrity of our studios and BioWare’s core values of quality in our workplace, quality in our products, and entrepreneurship. Operating as a city-state within the larger EA studio family, our talented teams at BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Austin are empowered to continue delivering powerful emotional experiences through our story-driven games."