The video game retailer hired two Amazon veterans to help it make a push into e-commerce.
With the addition of Glu Mobile games such as “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood,” EA will double the size of its mobile business.
The Codemasters board of directors chose the EA deal over an earlier offer from Take-Two Interactive.
The user-generated gaming platform, hugely popular with kids, has yet to turn a profit.
Playdots has made three popular games—Dots, Two Dots, and Dots & Co.—that have been downloaded more than 100 million times.
“We are living in unprecedented times and more people than ever before are turning to games for entertainment and a sense of community."
Microsoft tried to compete with Amazon's Twitch but its Mixer service saw "almost no growth in a medium that has otherwise been exploding."
Consumers confined to their homes by COVID-19 are turning to games not only as a diversion but also for social connection.
The video game retailer will save about $157 million a year by eliminating the dividend as it struggles with shrinking profits.
Take-Two's Q4 adjusted revenue missed estimates amid pressure from online and free-to-play video games such as Fortnite.
Most of the job cuts will come from support staff as the video game publisher prioritizes investment in its biggest franchises.
The retailer believes it can still "leverage our industry-leading position to drive growth in the second half" of the year.
