Here we go. Apple Pippin 2: It's Happening!!!
Kidding aside, I guess rumors of them doing some gaming system are true after all. I'm actually interested to see what they can do in that regard; I welcome the chaos of having four console platform holders again, particularly when one of them is an outsider (relatively speaking) who might have some unique ideas that incumbents would not due to being in the game for so long.
Nobody is out bidding them if they want EA bad enough.
That practically goes without saying...
They won't be able to with most of the licensed titles. The problem with EA is that it is basically either GaaS games like Apex, or licensed titles like FIFA, NFL, F1, WRC. Star Wars is negotiable, but everything else? DICE is run into the ground, Bioware is in heavy decline...I think Sims though have a ports on Mac OS.
I have been advocating for Disney, but alas.
No need. They have nothing but name now...
Disney simply doesn't have the money for it. They have to worry about Disney+ growth/retention, and took out a TON of loans to have the money for the Fox acquisition (money they are still paying back, BTW). So another $50 billion or so for EA is just out of the question for a long time.
Considering it seems EA's ideal mergers are with other non-gaming media companies, I think WB might actually be possible for a merger. Plus after giving up FIFA (and who knows, they might have to give up the NFL license exclusivity some day, too), EA would probably like access to things like the DC licenses and WB would probably like to have teams that can do more variety of games for their IP as well as other more consistent revenue streams in gaming (Apex Legends, Madden, etc.).
So if it's not Apple acquiring them, it'll probably be a merger with WB.