Los Angeles - Electronic Arts will acquire Rupture, a games-focused social network launched by Napster founder Shawn Fanning, for $30 million, according to a report from TechCrunch, which cited sources with knowledge of the deal.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts has launched a new sub-brand, EA Sports Freestyle, which will target what it says is the growing casual sports games audience. The label will publish at least three new games in the next 12 months, including an arcade-style boxing game called "FaceBreaker," and a title for Wii Fit, the new balance board accessory for the Nintendo Wii.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts has partnered with AOL Sports to market and promote "EA Sports GameShow," the company's new online sports trivia game. Under the agreement, AOL Sports now features GameShow as part of the content available to the 10.9 million unique visitors who visit the site monthly.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) said on Thursday that it will release its "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09" game on Aug. 26. Developed in Orlando, Fla. by EA Tiburon, the title will be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP and Wii systems. The game is the top-selling golf title of all time.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) said on Friday it has signed former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre as the cover athlete for its "Madden NFL 09" game, scheduled for release across North America on Aug. 12. Over the past 20 years, the Madden NFL franchise has sold more than 70 million copies, and since 2002 has been the top selling sports game each year in North America.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts said on Wednesday that it has signed former Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan as the cover athlete for the PlayStation 3 version of its "NCAA Football 09" game, scheduled for release in North America on July 15. The packaging for each of the title's console platforms will feature a different cover athlete, including former Arkansas All-American Darren McFadden on the Xbox 360.

New York - Video game publisher Take-Two Interactive (NASD: TTWO) said on Thursday that just 8% of its shareholders were in favor of Electronic Arts' (NASD: ERTS) $2 billion bid for the company, prompting EA to extend the deadline and slightly reduce its offer -- which Take-Two again rejected. "The minuscule number of shares tendered, as well as the strong vote in favor of the proposals presented at our annual meeting, offer indisputable evidence that our stockholders regard our efforts to enhance Take-Two's stockholder value as superior to the EA offer," Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) announced on Thursday that it has received a second request for information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) related to its proposed acquisition of fellow game publisher Take-Two Interactive (NASD: TTWO).

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) on Wednesday announced that its "The Sims" franchise has now sold 100 million units worldwide. EA pointed out that that figure would include one out of seven homes in Europe, and one out of three homes in America. The first iteration of The Sims was launched in 2000, and went on to become the best-selling PC game franchise of all time.

Redwood City, Calif. - After having its $2 billion buyout bid rejected, video game publisher Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) said on Friday that it has extended the expiration date on its offer for Take-Two Interactive (NASD: TTWO) until April 18. Take-Two has said the deal undervalues the company, and called EA's advances opportunistic, in light of the looming release of the fourth installment of its top-selling "Grand Theft Auto" franchise.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts said on Thursday that its "Madden NFL 09" will be available in retail stores in North America on August 12, including a special collector's edition in celebration of the franchise's 20th anniversary. The special edition will include full versions of both "Madden NFL 09" and the new "NFL Head Coach 09," classic Madden gameplay and a library of bonus video content.

Redwood City, Calif. - The board of game developer Take-Two Interactive (NASD: TTWO) on Wednesday rejected a $2 billion unsolicited takeover bid from Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS), calling the $26-a-share offer "inadequate in multiple respects" and "contrary to the best interests" of its stockholders." The board said that it will continue to explore other alternatives, including a possible combination with another company.

Redwood City, Calif. - In the wake of the company's hostile takeover bid for rival Take-Two Interactive (NASD: TTWO), Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) said on Monday that Warren Jenson is stepping down as its chief financial officer. The company did not disclose a reason for the move. "It's time for me to write the next chapter in my career," said Jenson, who has served as EA's CFO since 2002 and will stay with the company to help his replacement transition into the role. The company said that it will name a successor "shortly."

Redwood City, Calif. - Video game developer and publisher Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) announced on Monday that it has partnered with Liberty Media's (NASD: LINTA) Starz Media unit to develop an animated movie prequel to its sci-fi game "Dead Space."

Nashville, Tenn. - Guitar manufacturer Gibson has filed a second patent infringement lawsuit over guitar-replica controllers used in the video games "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band," this time suing "Rock Band" makers Harmonix, Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) MTV Networks and Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS). Gibson also last week filed suit against a number of retailers, including Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), for selling Activision's (NASD: ATVI) "Guitar Hero" in violation of its 1999 patent.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) said on Tuesday that it has extended its deal with Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) in-game advertising unit Massive, and will continue to provide in-game ads on Xbox 360 and PC titles from EA for the next two years. The deal includes the rights to serve ads on EA titles like "Madden NFL" and "Need for Speed."

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts on Wednesday said it signed driver Jeff Gordon as the cover athlete for its "NASCAR 09" title, scheduled to ship in North America on June 10. Gordon is ranked sixth all time in Cup Series wins with 81 and is a four time Sprint Cup Series champion.

San Bruno, Calif. - Google's (NASD: GOOG) YouTube video site on Wednesday introduced updates to its application programming interfaces (APIs) that will allow developers to integrate videos from the site into other applications, and showcased implementations from TiVo (NASD: TIVO), Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS), Animoto and the University of California.

Redwood City, Calif. - Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) said on Wednesday that former University of Arkansas running back and two-time All-American Darren McFadden will appear on the front cover of its NCAA Football 09 title for the Xbox 360, scheduled for release on July 15. Three other cover athletes from different regions of the country will appear on the front of the game for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PSP systems.

Redwood City, Calif. - Just days after rejecting a $2 billion unsolicited takeover offer from Electronic Arts (NASD: ERTS) (EA), video game developer and publisher Take-Two Interactive (NASD: TTWO) said in a regulatory filing that it has since received "informal indications of interest" from other potential suitors.