Electronic Arts may be eyeing Superscape purchase

A report in the business pages of UK newspaper the Sunday Telegraph has suggested that mobile developer Superscape, which specialises in 3D mobile titles, could be in line to be bought out by publishing giant Electronic Arts.

Superscape recently saw its share price plummet by around 40 per cent after issuing a profits warning, which has apparently opened the way for an EA acquisition bid for the British company.

However, neither firm has publicly expressed an interest in such a deal - and indeed, the Sunday Telegraph's assertion that EA's interest is long-standing seems somewhat peculiar, given that the two companies have never done business before.

Instead, the majority of EA's presence in the mobile market comes via a partnership with UK-based mobile developer and publisher I-Play (formerly Digital Bridges), which publishes a wide range of EA franchise titles on mobile networks worldwide.

Superscape, which describes itself as "the world's leading 3D mobile games publisher", does have a number of major brands to its name - having developed and distributed mobile titles based on franchises including Fight Club, Alien Vs Predator, Van Helsing and the Harlem Globetrotters.

But the company, which recently raised $40 million through a new share offering, has now been forced to admit that there will be serious delays in bringing some of its products to market, precipitating the profits warning which has kicked off this new speculation.

For EA's part, its approach to the mobile gaming space remains cautious, albeit optimistic.

"Looking ahead, there will be much excitement about the opportunities offered by taking gaming outside," EA Europe boss Gerhard Florin commented late last year. "There is still a long way to go in the evolution of mobile gaming as technologies advance and as consumer tastes become clear, and EA looks forward to being a part of this evolution."