Amazon is not expected to make an offer to get Electronic artsources told CNBC’s David Faber on Friday.
EA stock is up more than 4% in early trading after USA Today report Amazon will announce Friday that it plans to bid on the video game publisher, the company known for hit titles including FIFA, Madden and Apex Legends.
Faber denied the report on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “Nothing is happening,” he said, citing sources.
An Amazon spokesperson said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation. A representative from EA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the USA Today report.
If Amazon goes after EA seriously, it could help solidify the retail giant’s gaming presence. Amazon already owns Twitch, a streaming service popular among gamers, launched its own cloud gaming service, called Lunaand it offers gaming perks as part of its Prime loyalty program.
Amazon has been busy on the M&A front. Earlier this month, Amazon speak it plans to achieve I’m a robot, best known for its Roomba robot vacuum, for $1.7 billion. The announcement came just two weeks later speak it will buy primary care chain One Medical for $3.9 billion.
The games industry has experienced some consolidation this year. In January, Microsoft said it would buy Activision Blizzard in a $68.7 billion deal. And in May, Take-Two . interaction said it would acquire Zynga for $11 billion.
