Skip to main content

EA acquires Super Mega Baseball studio as it doubles down on sports games

EA has acquired Metalhead Software, the studio behind the Super Mega Baseball series, as the video game developer doubles down on sports games.

Metalhead Software, an independent studio, most recently developed and published Super Mega Baseball 3. The game was a hit with critics that gained a niche following last summer. EA Sports Executive Vice President Cam Weber says that the deal will help the developer grow its brand of sports game.

Recommended Videos

“We’re all players of Super Mega Baseball, and we’ve long admired the work of the Metalhead team,” said Weber in a press release. “It’s a unique and beloved franchise among sports gamers — the balance and depth of gameplay, and the unique style of the content, make it superfun to play with friends. We look forward to supporting and investing in the team so they can continue to build out more amazing games that delight sports fans around the world.”

🚨We’ve got a Super Mega Huge Announcement!@MetalheadSoft, makers of @SupMegBaseball are joining @EA! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/Sh29ugE8i6

— EA SPORTS (@EASPORTS) May 5, 2021

The acquisition is part of a larger trend at EA as it strengthens its sports label. In recent months, EA has announced a new PGA game and a college football title. It recently acquired developer Codemasters, the studio behind the F1 racing series.

It’s all part of a coordinated effort for EA, which highlighted its commitment to the EA Sports label in a press release. “EA Sports continues to expand, and we’re deeply excited to create more unique and interactive experiences that blur the lines between sports and entertainment,” says Weber.

EA did not disclose the exact terms of the acquisition. It plans to discuss more specifics on what games Metalhead is working on next at a later date.

Giovanni Colantonio
As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio oversees all things video games at Digital Trends. As a veteran…
New Atari 50 DLC shows the Intellivision acquisition is already paying off
An Atari 2600+ sits on a table.

Digital Eclipse's Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is an excellent and comprehensive look back at the company's now classic video game lineup, with games to play and extra content to interact with. So far, it's gotten one DLC: The Wider World of Atari, that added even more titles. Now, it's about to get its second, thanks to an acquisition it made earlier this year.

Atari announced The First Console War on Friday, and it's about, as you can guess, the company's first console war with the Intellivision, although it'll touch on a specific element of it. In the 1980s, Mattel was publishing games on the Intellivision. At some point, it decided to release versions of these console exclusives for its main competitor, the Atari 2600, under the M Network label. There are 19 of these games coming to Atari 50 with The First Console War, which is set to launch on November 8 for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 Atari 50 owners.

Read more
Is Monster Hunter Wilds cross-platform?
Two hunters ride mounts in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Of all the genres that we think need to be on the list of cross-platform games, hunting games like Monster Hunter Wilds have to be near the top. These are a rather unique style of game compared to the likes of Fallout 76, Genshin Impact, or Stardew Valley. Each of those has cooperative or competitive elements to them that are enhanced by cross-platform support, but nothing like what Monster Hunter Wilds has going on. The game will allow you to call in NPCs to help you on the hunt, but these games are best when you get a group of real friends together and embark on an epic quest to slay a giant beast, scavenge it for parts, and return to camp victorious. Monster Hunter Rise eventually got cross-platform support once it was ported off the Switch, but will Monster Hunter Wilds launch with this feature? Here's what you need to know about cross-platform support in one of our most anticipated upcoming games.
Is Monster Hunter Wilds cross-platform?

Monster Hunter Wilds will only have partial cross-platform support. The good news is that the part that it will have is crossplay, meaning that you and friends on either PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC can all hunt together with no issues. This feature can be disabled if you wish, but will be enabled by default to make sure desperate hunters can always find some aid when in need.

Read more
Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix teams up with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and more
Snoop Dogg in Fortnite.

Fortnite’s new season, Chapter 2 Remix, is getting a star-studded event that will run through November. The music-focused event will see the battle royale partnering with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and more artists to remix the game’s map each week.

The new announcement is the next phase of Epic’s goal to turn Fortnite into the “ultimate hub for social entertainment experiences,” as a representative from Epic explained during a press event. The game has had several musical collaborations previously, including the Guitar Hero-like Fortnite Festival mode that launched last year. This update brings that idea to the next level by partnering with four musical superstars.

Read more