Epic and the $1 billion Microsoft deal: it's GamePro again

According to this, the latest issue of GamePro predicts that Microsoft will buy Epic this year for $1 billion.

“Microsoft will buy Epic Games for $1 billion this summer,” said. Travis Moses, assistant editor at the US mag. “Epic Games is one of the few highly regarded indie developers… partly for their games but mostly for their Unreal engine technology. Microsoft has lots of cash on hand, and in buying Epic, could collect royalty rights for Unreal technology across other platforms. Given Epic’s tight partnership with Microsoft, along with widespread use of the Unreal engine, and this move makes a lot of sense, particularly in light of [Electronic Arts]’s Pandemic/BioWare merger [as] well as the Activision/Vivendi shockers.”

GamePro hit the news wholesale recently by running a Gears of War 2 flash on its cover, a move that drew down the wrath of the great Rein himself. Draw your own conclusion, number-crunching fans.