Electronic Arts recently stated that it will aim at release a new racing game every year following the planned acquisition of Codemasters. The latter, in fact, currently has numerous racing game franchises, including F1, WRC, Dirt, Grid and Project Cars. Elecronic Arts itself then owns the rights to Need for Speed, Burnout and Real Racing. From their collaboration, therefore, a mechanism could arise that would see the release of a different racing game per year, exploiting the different brands that the two software houses have assets.
Explaining to investors why she was interested in Codemasters, Electronic Arts said the study would help them become the "global leader in racing entertainment ", with the ability to take advantage of the different teams, new technologies and different IPs of the British developer. Codemasters games were a "natural fit" with "clear opportunities" for policy and goals di EA Sports, added the software house, and this acquisition could lead to the birth of new titles never seen before. Existing Codemasters franchises will reach a new and wider audience, and will see their development accelerated with skills and technologies shared with Electronic Arts studios. In November 2020, the publisher of Grand Theft Auto, Take-Two, agreed on a price of nearly $ 1 billion to grab racing giant Codemasters. The following month, EA raised the offer, coming to offer 1,2 billion dollars, which was accepted by the Codemasters board of directors.
EA's offering is entirely in cash, with a value of $ 6,04 per common share. Take-Two confirmed last month that it will not seek to compete with EA, paving the way for the purchase to be finalized. For all racing game enthusiasts, therefore, a very rich future of titles awaits.
