SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) has reached an agreement with The9 Ltd. (NCTY.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to buy a 19 percent stake in the Chinese online game operator for about ?200 million, a local newspaper said on Saturday.
EA, the world?s top video game publisher, and The9 have reached a basic agreement, Shanghai Securities News reported.
A representative from The9 was not immediately available for comment.
Shanghai-based The9 also obtained the exclusive right to run EA?s casual game FIFA Online in China at the end of March, the newspaper added.
Meanwhile, a deal would grant EA an indirect way into China?s online game market indirectly, the paper added.
