LOS ANGELES, April 9 (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc. ERTS.O, the world's largest video game publisher, said on Monday it has not signed a deal to buy a stake in Chinese game operator The9 Ltd. NCTY.O.
The newspaper Shanghai Securities News reported on Saturday that EA had agreed to buy a 19 percent stake in The9 for about $200 million and that a basic agreement had been reached.
“There is no signed agreement with The9,” said EA spokesman Jeff Brown. He declined to elaborate, saying the company does not comment on rumors and speculation.
The newspaper also reported that Shanghai-based The9 had obtained the exclusive right to run EA’s casual game FIFA online in China at the end of March.
A deal would potentially give The9 -- which offers Blizzard Entertainment's VIV.PA wildly popular "World of Warcraft" online game in China -- rights to run more sports-themed casual games from EA.
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