Sources says publisher "quietly exploring" sale, with private equity firms KKR and Providence Equity reportedly interested; EA shares surge on the report; analyst calls deal "low probability."

Electronic Arts may be for sale. According to unnamed sources speaking to The New York Post, the Mass Effect, FIFA, and Battlefield publisher is "quietly exploring" a sale.

EA sale discussions are reportedly in "early days."

EA has reportedly been approached by private equity firms KKR and Providence Equity Partners, the latter of which owns a partial stake in Bethesda parent company Zenimax. The discussions are supposedly in "early days."

EA shares surged by more than 8 percent this morning to over $14 per share, representing the highest intraday gain since February 2, according to BusinessWeek. One source reportedly familiar with EA said the publisher will "do a deal" when the company's share value rises to $20.

An EA representative told GameSpot, "We don’t comment on rumors and speculation."

Asked about the likelihood of EA being sold, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter told GameSpot, "It's a low probability. I don't believe it."

EA is not the only major game publisher that could be sold. Media conglomerate Vivendi is actively interested in selling its stake in World of Warcraft and Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard, though the firm is facing a tough sell.

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