Electronic Arts' bid for rival publisher Take-Two has been ongoing for months, though the mega-publisher has agreed to extend the deadline for its $2 billion USD buyout offer to Take-Two's shareholders as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission stepped in to request additional information regarding the attempted acquisition on April 16th. However, Take-Two itself is reportedly not proving cooperative with the FTC, as the publisher thus far refuses to provide the federal agency with these details. Take-Two previously explained that EA's offer to purchase outstanding shares of its common stock, even at $26 USD per share in cash, was underestimating the publisher's shareholder value.

Take-Two said it has already provided FTC with "enormous quantities of data and access to key executives," but said it believes the FTC's subpoena and CID are "unnecessarily broad and would entail unacceptable additional expense."

It said to limit the expense and labor of the FTC's demand it has sought to obtain reasonable limits on the scope of the information sought

In response to Take-Two's actions, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has announced a June 24th hearing to determine whether or not the publisher should be complying with the FTC's subpoena and civil investigative demand. Take-Two hopes to reach some sort of settlement with the FTC before the hearing, but should its attempts fall through then the publisher remains adamant in opposing its petition.  Is Take-Two buying time for something its planning behind EA's back?  The publisher is not adverse to exploring "strategic alternatives" with third parties, and this could even include EA so long as the price is right... for Take-Two that is!