EA buys Napster bloke's site

By Robert Purchese Published 12 May, 2008

Social networking for MMOs.

EA has shelled out USD 30 million to acquire Rupture, a game-focused social networking site made by Napster creator Shawn Fanning.

TechCrunch claims inside knowledge of the deal, and says everything should be signed, sealed, and delivered imminently.

Rupture started out as a World of Warcraft community hub that tracked what your friends were up to in-game: changing equipment, gaining skill points, levelling behind your back, that sort of thing.

It went on to support Team Fortress 2, Madden 08, Halo 3 and Guitar Hero III, but never got out of beta testing and only ever attracted a few users.

EA is said to have snapped it up as a technology purchase, and presumably will be looking to use it with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

This is the first proper bag of gold Fanning has got his hands on, after he faced numerous lawsuits when Napster hit the headlines all those years ago.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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