Peggle, Bejeweled Maker PopCap Now a Part of EA

Update: PopCap has confirmed the news. On its website, it jokingly listed five new projects/changes that are now (not) in the works: "EA is being rebranded to Poptronic Arts; Sim Zuma: The SwampLife Edition; Peggle: Dead Space - Bjorn's Breakfast; Bejeweled Battlefield Blitz; and Plants vs. ZombEAz: NFL Lockout Edition." It also lovingly put together the Plants vs. Zombies inspired image above.

Original Story: PopCap is to be acquired by Electronic Arts, reports the Wall Street Journal. The deal may end up being worth $1.3 billion; EA will initially pay $650 million in cash and $100 million in shares, according to the report.

EA has been trying for some time now to increase its presence in the casual games space, and this is its biggest move yet. It doesn't come as much of a surprise, as a PopCap acquisition was rumored in late June, with EA as the likely buyer.

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