Electronic Arts just picked up a very expensive set of DICE.

The publisher purchased Swedish developer Digital Illusions CE for about 17.5 million SEK.

DICE will continue their work on the Battlefield franchise and develop "new products" for EA as well.

"EA is thrilled to officially welcome this team of incredibly talented people and a globally recognized game franchise," said Paul Lee, President of EA's Worldwide Studios. "The DICE studio has strong opportunity for growth as we build the Battlefield franchise and other new products. We're confident that our creative approach and business leadership principles are well matched to share future success."

Patrick S derlund, DICE CEO, said,"Being part of the EA studio team is a great step forward that will help us continue to deliver new games and new franchises to DICE fans. We've been working very closely with EA for the past five years and this is a very natural step for us as we move into the next generation of gaming."

Patrick S derlund will become an EA Studio General Manager, maintaining responsibility for the DICE studio and taking on additional creative responsibilities. The DICE leadership team will continue in their roles in Stockholm.

This is the future. I think as the cost of developing games gets higher and higher, the smaller development studios are gong to go running for cover under the umbrellas of publishers like THQ, EA and Ubisoft. There comes a time, I think, that studio presidents get sick of putting their homes on the line everytime they want to make a game. Brian Crecente

EA Aquires Digital Illusions [Strategy Informer]

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