In their effort to capture even more of the growing casual gaming market, Electronic Arts has signed an exclusivity deal with Hasbro that will last until Dec. 31, 2013. The deal gives EA rights for games such as Monopoly, Yahtzee and Nerf.
So what does this all mean? Well, it may not mean much to you as a hardcore gamer, but it’s just the latest sign of publishers starting to really focus on the money available in the casual market. And with this, EA now adds yet another huge aspect to their already enormous casual lineup — they run POGO, of course. Hopefully, any crazy bank that EA may collect will lead to greater innovation on the more hardcore side. Well, we can dream of such a thing at least.
From the press release:
“The gaming market has never been more primed for a revolution in how families enjoy games,” said Kathy Vrabeck, president of EA’s Casual Entertainment label. “Hasbro is the ideal partner to help propel this change. Their games define fun. These are games that we all love and remember from our childhoods.
“The combination of EA’s market leadership in the interactive space and Hasbro’s timeless franchises is a perfect partnership for today’s market. Together EA and Hasbro can create the next generation of fun for a new wave of kids and families,” she added.
“Our toy and game brands have been family-favorites for decades, and aligning ourselves with EA will result in broadening the reach of our brands through the ‘re-imagining’ of these beloved entertainment icons in all key digital categories,” said Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s chief operating officer.
“Through the years, EA has proven themselves time and again as an incredibly creative company that delivers amazing content across multiple brands. We are thrilled to work with EA in bringing our brands to the next level in the digital world.”
