EA and Hasbro Strike a Deal for Games

The rights to make video games based on classic board games like Monopoly and Scrabble now belong to Electronic Arts' new casual gaming division.

Electronic Arts and Hasbro announced Friday that they will team up to offer titles for casual gamers based on the toymaker’s board games and other brands. EA now holds exclusive worldwide rights to make games based on intellectual properties like Monopoly, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Nerf, and Tonka.

Upcoming titles will be developed by EA’s casual entertainment label, which was just formed in June. “The gaming market has never been more primed for a revolution in how families enjoy games,” said Kathy Vrabeck, president of the label. “Hasbro is the ideal partner to help propel this change. Their games define fun. These are games that we all love and remember from our childhoods.” EA hopes to release Hasbro titles in the 2008 calendar year.

The agreement will actually work two ways, as Hasbro will also be able to launch new toys based on EA titles, as well. The arrangement will last through 2013, when it may be renewed pending its financial performance. Other financial details of the deal were not announced.