EA to Buy PopCap Games for $1B

Electronic Arts is apparently in the final negotiation states to buy PopCap games. The deal will end up costing EA some US$1 billion, according to anonymous sources, but could help the company finally make a big move into the social gaming market.

EA wants some PopCap actionEA is ready to level up with PopCap

TechCrunch reports that the deal would also help EA gain marketshare with casual mobile gamers that tend to stay away from the company’s more involved titles.

PopCap is known for popular iPhone and iPad games such as Plants vs. Zombies, Bejeweled, and Peggle. EA offers titles for the iPad and iPhone such as Madden NFL 11, Dead Space, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and SimCity Deluxe.

Neither company is publicly talking about the possible acquisition, so there isn’t any word yet on when a deal might be announced.