EA buys PopCap for a whopping 750 million dollars

It has been rumoured for a while, but now EA have officially purchased PopCap Games for a total sum of 750 million dollars. The value is split into $650 million cash (images of a thousand briefcases lined with hundred dollar bills are now flooding my mind), and $100 million in boring old shares.

EA CEO, John Riccitiello thinks that PopCap Games was a great standalone business, grossing $100 million in revenue in 2010, and so EA will not be altering much.

“EA and PopCap are a compelling combination,” said Riccitiello. “PopCap has shown accelerated growth in both the social and causal markets.

“PopCap’s great studio talent and powerful IP add to EA’s momentum and accelerate our drive towards a $1 billion digital business. EA’s global studio and publishing network will help PopCap rapidly expand their business to more digital devices, more countries, and more channels.”

“By working with EA, we’ll scale our games and services to deliver more social, mobile, casual fun to an even bigger, global audience,” added PopCap Games CEO, David Roberts.

You can now beign your “I will skin EA alive if they take down PopCap Games from Steam” rant right about now.