EA has revealed recently that they will be acquiring developer Respawn Entertainment, who are most known for their Titanfall franchise. While both companies had been partners for a while, now EA will have direct control of the company. While this initially seemed to spell doom for the Titanfall franchise, it seems like it’s exactly the opposite.
It was revealed that Respawn Entertainment is actually already working on a new Titanfall game, though details on it are scarce at this point. This is being developed alongside of their previously announced Star Wars game, which does not currently have a release date. Whether the game ends up being Titanfall 3 or some sort of spin-off, this is absolutely fantastic news for Titanfall fans who were worried about the series’ future following the lukewarm sales of the second game.
CEO of Respawn Entertainment, Vince Zampella, said “We started Respawn with the goal to create a studio with some of the best talent in the industry, and to be a top developer of innovative games. We felt that now was the time to join an industry leader that brings the resources and support we need for long term success, while still keeping our culture and creative freedom. EA has been a great partner over the years with Titanfall and Titanfall 2, and we’re excited to combine our strengths. This is a great next step for Respawn, EA, and our players.”
Going into the actual details of EA’s acquisition of Respawn Entertainment, “Under the agreement, EA will pay $151 million in cash, and up to $164 million in long-term equity in the form of restricted stock units to employees, which will vest over four years. In addition, EA may be required to pay additional variable cash consideration that is contingent upon achievement of certain performance milestones, relating to the development of future titles, through the end of calendar 2022. The additional consideration is limited to a maximum of $140 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the calendar 2017 or soon thereafter, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The acquisition is expected to be neutral to EA’s net income in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.”
The original Titanfall released for PC, Xbox One and Xbox 360 in 2014, whereas Titanfall 2 released for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016. Both games were well-received, though the second game was notable for incorporating a single player campaign along with the first game’s popular multiplayer mode.
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