EA Completes Acquisition of BioWare, Pandemic

Electronic Arts has completed its $860 million acquisition of VG Holding Corp., owner of renowned development studios BioWare Corp. and Pandemic Studios.

With BioWare and Pandemic now officially part of the EA family, the two studios will produce ten new franchises based on six EA-owned properties. BioWare is currently known to be working on Dragon Age (PC), a Sonic the Hedgehog DS RPG, an untitled MMO strongly rumored to be set in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic universe, with reports indicating that the other two entries in the planned Mass Effect (X360) trilogy and a sequel to Jade Empire (PC, Xbox) are on the wayas well.

Pandemic is currently working on two open-world titles, Saboteur (TBA) and the ever-controversial Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (PC, PS2, PS3, X360), with the latter title expected to release shortly.

BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk will serve as co-general managers of BioWare, while Pandemic CEO Andrew Goldman and president Josh Resnick has been named co-general managers of Pandemic Studios, with former Pandemic director of programming Greg Borrud serving as its chief production officer. All five individuals are now EA vice presidents.

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