Electronic Arts acquires 'Angry Birds' publisher Chillingo

Interactive entertainment software firm Electronic Arts has acquired Chillingo, the U.K.-based publisher of mobile games including the blockbuster Angry Birds. The Los Angeles Times reports the deal is valued at less than $20 million--an EA spokesperson confirmed the purchase, but would not comment on the acquisition total. Chillingo works with a global network of independent development studios, leveraging its marketing and publishing channels to distribute games across platforms including iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile--marquee partners include Rovio Mobile, the developer behind Angry Birds (7 million downloads and counting) and ZeptoLab, the firm responsible for the new iPhone smash Cut the Rope. At press time, Cut the Rope and Angry Birds respectively hold the top two spots on the App Store's Paid Apps sales chart--neither Rovio nor ZeptoLab is part of the EA acquisition.  

"This acquisition will combine Chillingo's expertise in cultivating the ideas of independent developers with EA's global mobile publishing reach," Electronic Arts said in a statement. The deal follows almost a year after EA snapped up social network game creator Playfish for approximately $275 million in cash and roughly $25 million in equity retention arrangements. The EA Mobile portfolio also includes franchises like Tetris, Bejeweled, The Sims and Madden NFL Football.

For more on the Electronic Arts/Chillingo deal:
- read this Los Angeles Times article

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