Report: PopCap being acquired for over $1 billion
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TechCrunch reports, by way of "multiple sources," that casual gaming powerhouse PopCap – the group behind Plants vs. Zombies, Peggle, and every other game your mom loves and you won't admit to loving – is in the process of being acquired.
... for over $1 billion.
While you consider all the wrong decisions you've made with your life, we'll finish writing this post so we can join you. The buyer remains unknown and, while growth-happy dev Zynga seems like an obvious pick, TC is hearing that PopCap's asking price (over $1 billion, remember?) was too rich for its blood.
TC speculates that either EA, Japanese mobile group DeNA, or Chinese outfit Tencent might be behind the purchase. You may recognize DeNA following its acquisition of ngmoco last year, and Tencent following its majority buyout of free-to-play hit League of Legends. We've asked PopCap for comment which, if the report is true, we expect right after the PopCap team finishes screaming about how rich they are.
[Update 6:09pm ET – As is to be expected, PopCap issued us the following comment: "Per company policy, we do not comment on rumors and speculation of this nature." 6:45pm ET – PopCap's soon-to-be "Customer Engagement Lead" Jennifer Kye took to Twitter to say, "Not true. Rumor debunked." She later clarified that she would be "working there next week" and that her soon-to-be "boss confirmed it" for her. We've again reached out to PopCap for another statement. 7:02pm ET – And PopCap got back to us again – they're really good about that – with the same no comment: "we do not comment on rumors and speculation of this nature."]
... for over $1 billion.
While you consider all the wrong decisions you've made with your life, we'll finish writing this post so we can join you. The buyer remains unknown and, while growth-happy dev Zynga seems like an obvious pick, TC is hearing that PopCap's asking price (over $1 billion, remember?) was too rich for its blood.
TC speculates that either EA, Japanese mobile group DeNA, or Chinese outfit Tencent might be behind the purchase. You may recognize DeNA following its acquisition of ngmoco last year, and Tencent following its majority buyout of free-to-play hit League of Legends. We've asked PopCap for comment which, if the report is true, we expect right after the PopCap team finishes screaming about how rich they are.
[Update 6:09pm ET – As is to be expected, PopCap issued us the following comment: "Per company policy, we do not comment on rumors and speculation of this nature." 6:45pm ET – PopCap's soon-to-be "Customer Engagement Lead" Jennifer Kye took to Twitter to say, "Not true. Rumor debunked." She later clarified that she would be "working there next week" and that her soon-to-be "boss confirmed it" for her. We've again reached out to PopCap for another statement. 7:02pm ET – And PopCap got back to us again – they're really good about that – with the same no comment: "we do not comment on rumors and speculation of this nature."]
Reader Comments (32)
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:54PM Truant said
How do you even negotiate a price that high?
Hey Jim, how's that acquisition go?
Went great, thanks for asking, Tad! Got it for a steal at over ONE BILLION DOLLARS.
Hey Jim, how's that acquisition go?
Went great, thanks for asking, Tad! Got it for a steal at over ONE BILLION DOLLARS.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:55PM 343 Guilty Fart said
At least PopCap makes good quality addicting games, unlike Rovio who have one franchise hit on their hands and probably think they're worth more.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:21PM Mmmmz said
@343 Guilty Fart
And I still find that one hit incredibly underwhelming and I don't understand why it's so popular outside of a Conan plug, and its relative polish when it came out.
Still, Popcap being acquired by anyone kills the brand. Especially if it were EA. The only hope would be if the dev part of Popcap remains relatively untouched. Otherwise...
RIP Popcap!
Reply
And I still find that one hit incredibly underwhelming and I don't understand why it's so popular outside of a Conan plug, and its relative polish when it came out.
Still, Popcap being acquired by anyone kills the brand. Especially if it were EA. The only hope would be if the dev part of Popcap remains relatively untouched. Otherwise...
RIP Popcap!
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 11:24PM SuperWoody64 said
@Tihn
Yeah, what word isn't in the dictionary? And i agree with the, "I hope they keep everyone" commenters. Acquiring a name means zip when you don't have the talent to create crack in a digital format like popcap has for the past few years: PvZ, Peggle, Bejeweled, BookWorm etc...
Reply
Yeah, what word isn't in the dictionary? And i agree with the, "I hope they keep everyone" commenters. Acquiring a name means zip when you don't have the talent to create crack in a digital format like popcap has for the past few years: PvZ, Peggle, Bejeweled, BookWorm etc...
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:57PM MLC said
When I saw the headline, I immediately thought of EA doing this.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:22PM RogueJedi86 said
@MLC
This just in, Mass Effect 3's mining mode will be a Bejeweled minigame.
Reply
This just in, Mass Effect 3's mining mode will be a Bejeweled minigame.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:57PM Uncle Jesse said
I hate my life...
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:13PM Captaindrek1 said
@Uncle Jesse
I don't want anyone to buy Popcap.
Ain't no bitches gonna touch my PvZ but Popcap!
Reply
I don't want anyone to buy Popcap.
Ain't no bitches gonna touch my PvZ but Popcap!
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:58PM DJ Kenneth A said
Please dont be zynga. I don't want bejeweledville invites on facebook
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:59PM Schlecht said
Holy crap. I now officially create my mobile game design company. I think $100,000 is a fair offer.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 5:59PM Electrium said
I'm not surprised - they basically have the ability to manufacture digital crack.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:00PM mguniverse said
Am I the only one who read this post as "Report: PopCap being acquired for over $1"?
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:04PM Lerkero said
As long as they don't get acquired by a public company and suddenly have to acquiesce to shareholder demands I think I will be okay. Might be a bad buyer too so you never know. Please don't make the wrong decision Popcap.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:09PM TheOtherJames said
PopCap being acquired? OK. That makes sense.
PopCap being acquired for over $1 billion (*pinky*) dollars? Keep inflatin' that bubble.
PopCap being acquired for over $1 billion (*pinky*) dollars? Keep inflatin' that bubble.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:10PM Ordeith said
In other news, Plants vs Zombies is now available on Windows Phone 7 for $5.
It isn't the company, but then it also isn't a billion bucks.
It isn't the company, but then it also isn't a billion bucks.
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 6:39PM Timjoy said
When do we get Plants vs Zombies 2?
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 7:33PM ChaskaCF said
waaaaaaay over valued imho. -.-
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 8:58PM Fire Walk With Me said
@ChaskaCF yes. but I'm happy for the guys at Popcap they always seemed to make really nice games. At least the billion is going to a good company.
Reply
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 8:00PM kmcroc said
It's MS who's buy ,so they can add the library of games to kinetic + whatever Rare is working on . lol
Posted: Jun 22nd 2011 11:02PM Hawaii Jeff said
Um, yay.... I guess?
Posted: Jun 23rd 2011 12:55AM markhill66 said
Ok, everyone, I'll admit it.
It's me. I am buying PopCap for $1 billion (1.2 to be exact).
My plan is to make a free to play Bejewled MMO. I hope you will play.
It's me. I am buying PopCap for $1 billion (1.2 to be exact).
My plan is to make a free to play Bejewled MMO. I hope you will play.
Posted: Jun 23rd 2011 6:07PM iceveiled said
Well...Pop Cap games WERE good.
Posted: Jun 24th 2011 12:58AM Imminent Fate said
Let's play Russian roulette.
Posted: Jun 28th 2011 9:33PM mattwo said
I thought "no comment" automatically meant "yes" lol







