And in a purely cynical response, this probably means that the Star Wars game that the developer is working on is probably on track for release. Ahem, this acquisition news comes shortly after word that EA is closing Visceral Games. Respawn, the studio formed by ex-Call of Duty veterans were behind last year's excellent Titanfall 2.

What does this mean for the studio? Well, we assume not a huge amount of change as so far they've been working closely with EA as a publishing partner.

“We’ve seen firsthand the world-class caliber of Respawn as a development studio with incredible vision, deep talent and an inspiring creative mindset,” said Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts. “Our longtime partnership is grounded in a shared desire to push the boundaries and deliver extraordinary and innovative new experiences for players around the world. Together, we’ve brought this to life in the Titanfall franchise, and now with the Respawn team joining EA, we have exciting plans to accomplish even more amazing things in the future.”

“We started Respawn with the goal to create a studio with some of the best talent in the industry, and to be a top developer of innovative games,” said Vince Zampella, CEO of Respawn Entertainment. “We felt that now was the time to join an industry leader that brings the resources and support we need for long term success, while still keeping our culture and creative freedom. EA has been a great partner over the years with Titanfall and Titanfall 2, and we’re excited to combine our strengths. This is a great next step for Respawn, EA, and our players.”

The deal which could be as high as $455 million also comes in response to Korean publisher Nexon, who recently made a bid to buy the studio outright. Which also means that EA outbid Necon in order to preserve its relationship with the developer.