Plants vs Zombies 2 for Android rumored to be delayed by Apple bribe

There seems to be some drama behind the prolonged delay of the international release of Plants vs Zombies 2 for Android, with Apple being pointed as the culprit. Naturally, Apple denies giving game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) a “truckload of money” to exclusively release the hit game on iOS first before unleashing it to the rest of the world.

There is no doubt about the popularity and success of the game, and the figures since the launch of the sequel in August speak for themselves. Unfortunately for us, the game launched first and only on iOS, which isn’t actually uncommon with some big titles. However, just a few weeks ago, an Android version of the game popped up for the Chinese market, with an international Android version nowhere in sight.


If the statement of EA Labels head Frank Gibeau is to be believed, Apple had a hand in causing the situation. In an internal EA town hall meeting, Gibeau was quoted to have said that Apple gave the company an undisclosed large amount of money to delay the Android version of Plants vs. Zombies 2. Game maker PopCap refused to comment on internal matters and Apple denies the accusation.

Such underhanded tactics are really not that uncommon among big players in the games industry, so it should only come as a very mild shock that it would happen to a hit title like Plants vs. Zombies. That said, there’s nothing we can really do about it except gnash our teeth and await for the arrival of the reanimated dead rumored to come in October.