Game publisher Electronic Arts has bought a 19 percent stake in the Chinese online game operator The9. Shanghai Securities News reported that the deal will cost EA $200 million.

It would give The9, which offers Blizzard Entertainment's wildly popular "World of Warcraft" online game in China, the rights to run more sports-themed casual games from EA.

It would also give EA a way of getting into China's huge online game market. 

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