In a recent report published by Bloomberg, the past, present, and future status of Disney was explored. Following the dismissal of Bob Chapek last year, ex-CEO Bob Iger stepped back up to the helm to lead the firm – but since he came back on board, he’s effectively led the corporation into a downfall. In the report, it was referenced that he has suffered ‘more setbacks in 11 months than he did during his first 15 years at Disney’s helm,’ referencing his period as CEO that ran from 2005 to 2020.

By way of an attempt to climb out of the pit that Disney finds itself stuck in, Iger must now consider alternative ways to gain ground and produce positive results. One such way that Iger is being encouraged to do that is by considering a deep dive into the gaming industry – by way of an acquisition. It was directly stated that Bob Iger had been approached by his ‘deputies’, and they openly recommended that he should acquire Electronic Arts, but he was reportedly ‘not committed’ to the idea.

Could Disney Buy EA?

Image Credit: Disney

It’s no big secret that Electronic Arts has been shaping up for a buyout for a relatively long time – almost two years. This year, the company split itself into two separate entities – EA Sports and EA Entertainment, which effectively makes it easier for a larger brand or two to acquire the pieces. Few gaming publishers have more connections to Disney than Electronic Arts. In recent years, EA’s studios have worked on the likes of Battlefront and Star Wars Jedi, and at the moment, the firm has teams working on two Marvel games: Iron Man and Black Panther.

There’s a bit of groundwork there, the relationships already exist, Electronic Arts is receptive to a buyout, and Disney’s high-ranking executives are open to an acquisition. It effectively writes itself, and it means that, as Bloomberg said in the report, Disney could go from ‘gaming licensee to gaming giant.’

In his first stint as CEO of Disney, Bob Iger oversaw the acquisitions of Marvel, Pixar, 21st Century Fox, and Lucasfilm, among others. They were all deals that paid off in dividends for the Disney Corporation, but would a gaming-based acquisition be as successful?

Related: Is Disney’s Domination Coming This Year?

Does It End With Electronic Arts?

It doesn’t, no. Let’s say that Disney doesn’t want to acquire Electronic Arts – there are still plenty of publishers, developers, and indie studios out there that Disney could target. How about Ubisoft, for example? At present, Ubisoft’s Massive Entertainment is developing Star Wars Outlaws, so there are relationships there, too. It’s all about finding the right fit – and one that makes commercial and fiscal sense.

As Iger seeks to pull Disney up by its lapels and get it back to its former glory, we could see an acquisition take place – or at least be explored – soon.