Electronic Arts said yesterday that it had abandoned talks over a deal to buy rival video game maker Take-Two Interactive Software and would not press forward with a bid, presumably ending its seven-month battle to buy the company.

EA, the publisher of the Madden American football game and Rock Band, has been fighting to acquire Take-Two since February, when Take-Two rejected its offers to buy the company for as much as $26 per share, or about $2bn (£1.1bn).