As the American website Puck reports, EA is in talks with several major corporations such as Disney, Apple and Amazon. The maker of FIFA, Battlefield and Apex Legends wants to be bought out or merge with companies like NBCUniversal. While no fixed deal has been made at the moment, EA’s plans are probably very concrete – as is its desire to make a deal clear.

EA recognizes industry trend of large purchases and consolidations

What is being reported? Dylan Byers of Puck reports on the specific plans of EA and their CEO, Andrew Wilson:

In recent years, as media companies have taken a greater interest in the fast-growing games industry, they have [Andrew] Wilson and Electronic Arts have held discussions with a number of different potential buyers, including Disney, Apple and Amazon.

Several sources familiar with those talks say EA is persistently pushing for a sale and has been encouraged by the Microsoft-Activision deal. Others say EA is primarily interested in a merger agreement that would allow Wilson to remain as chief executive of the combined company.

Preferably, then, Andrew Wilson would remain in a leadership role. But EA should be integrated into an even larger group – through a sale or merger. Speaking to Kotaku, EA spokesman John Reseburg said in a statement that they “do not comment on rumors and speculation related to mergers and acquisitions.”

What could be the reason? As Byers says, this effort by EA is probably in light of a new trend in the gaming industry. More and more developers and publishers are being bought up and merged.

Notable examples:

As recently as February, EA communicated that it would rather buy than be bought. Since then, the plan has apparently changed. Beyers reports that Wilson approached Disney as early as March to “make a more significant deal clear than licensing.”

This statement is particularly striking because EA has lost big-name licensing contracts. True, many of EA’s Star Wars games are in development, and Star Wars is now owned by Disney. But just a few days ago it was announced that EA will publish soccer games without the FIFA license in the future. EA and FIFA part ways after 30 years – Will it get better now?

What does this mean for employees?

Whatever the future holds for EA, a major concern related to consolidation is how it will ultimately affect the employees of these companies. As Kotaku reports, an estimated 200 customer service employees are expected to be laid off. “According to four of the affected employees, their work will be outsourced to cheaper third-party providers in Romania and India,” Kotaku writes. This could also be a sign that EA wants to make itself more attractive to potential buyers.

So the gaming industry in general is in a very turbulent phase. A new trend in which employees of gaming developers are forming unions also shows this: First union formed by major video game companies in the U.S. – Here’s what’s behind it.