One of Charlottetown's most successful video game developers has been sold to Electronic Arts — one of the biggest game developers in the world.

Bight Games is the P.E.I. company behind Trade Nations, a mobile phone game that's been a top 50 seller on the Apple iStore.

Trade Nations is free to play in its simplest form, but users can pay to advance in the game.

"We just signed the deal on Friday, and we're really excited about it. It's a big change for us, and a lot of opportunity," said the company's CEO Stuart Duncan.

Mobile games are one of the fastest growing segments of the industry.

It's a model that's proven profitable for developers, one which Electronic Arts wants to expand.

"It was a natural fit," said Duncan. " They have the expertise and the management and the support services — that side of the business that we don't have the expertise in. Yet we can retain the benefit of those resources and continue to make games."

Duncan said while Bight Games will be owned by Electronic Arts, it will still continue to operate as an independent studio, with a lot of the same creative control it has now.

That means the 26 full time staff will be staying in Charlottetown and Duncan thinks it could mean more employment opportunities on P.E.I.

"I think what we're going to see is access to the financial and support services that will allow us to grow the studio here, to put more people in seats, making games in Charlottetown."

Neither Duncan nor Electronic Arts would give any more details about the deal until it's finalized.

The two sides hope to have that done by the end of August.