EA to acquire smartphone game developer Golf Clash for $1.4 billion

Publisher Electronic Arts wants to acquire developer Playdemic from WarnerMedia. The studio is known for the mobile game Golf Clash, which has been downloaded 80 million times. EA will pay $1.4 billion for the studio.

EA wants to acquire Playdemic because of the success of Golf Clash, but the company’s employees and expertise are also valuable additions, the publisher writes. EA describes the acquisition as “the next step” in a strategy to expand its sports portfolio and accelerate its growth in the smartphone games market.

The acquisition of Playdemic follows a few months after the acquisition of Glu Mobile. In February, EA announced it was acquiring that company for $2.1 billion. Glu Mobile is the developer of several casual smartphone games, including a Kim Kardashian title. The acquisition was completed at the end of April.

Playdemic was founded in 2010 and is best known for Golf Clash. That free-to-play game is available on Android, iOS and Facebook. In the game of golf, players can compete against other players worldwide. The acquisition by EA has yet to be approved by regulatory authorities.