Microsoft has looked into buying publishing giant EA, according to a report.

Polygon claims a “reliable source close to Microsoft” said that the publisher was one of a number of potential acquisitions that have been considered.

The computing giant has around $130 billion in cash reserves that it could use to fund big a few mega deals in the games space.

Value for money?

Any deal for EA would be an expensive one, with the company holding a market cap of around $35 billion.

Such a move would give Microsoft access to a vast network of talented development teams and significant publishing capabilities, as well as games franchises such as FIFA, Madden, Battlefield, Dead Space, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Star Wars Battlefront (the latter dependent on EA’s deal with Disney).

As well as big triple-A productions for console and PC, EA also publishes a number of highly successful mobile games such as Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes.

Whether Microsoft would actually make a move for EA remains to be seen.

Other potential acquisitions rumoured to have been considered by Microsoft include Steam owner Valve and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds developer PUBG Corp.