Take-Two said the decision followed detailed discussions with “various interested parties” over the last five months.

Take-Two repeatedly said that it was weighing its options while talking with other potential suitors, although it has never named any other interested parties.

“Take-Two’s Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of stockholders to conclude its review of strategic alternatives and to continue operating and building Take-Two as an independent company,” the company said.

In September, EA pulled away from an offer to buy Take-Two after pursuing the company for more than six months. They had been in private talks after EA dropped its hostile bid, worth roughly $2 billion, which the “GTA” publisher had rejected as inadequate.

Analysts have cautioned that by losing out on the wider distribution and cash reserve that Electronic Arts offered, Take-Two faces declining near-term sales and risks losing key employees — namely Sam and Dan Houser, the Rockstar North executives seen as the driving force behind GTA. Both of their contracts expire early next year.

But Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick on Thursday reiterated that the company, whose roster of hit games also includes “Bioshock” and the 2K Sports series, is solid.

“We are strongly positioned creatively, financially and competitively to benefit from the opportunities we see in the fastest growing segment of the entertainment industry,” he said is a statement.

Take-Two shares declined 6 percent to $14.98 on Thursday afternoon, and have dropped more than 38 percent over the last six months, a decline which Cowen & Co analyst Doug Creutz said presented a chance to buy at a bargain price.

“The official end of the strategic review process marks the return of management’s full attention to the business of running a video game company,” he said in a note to clients. “In our opinion, current share levels present investors with a compelling opportunity to get back into Take-Two shares …”

Take-Two Interactive to remain independent (Reuters) by Reuters: Yahoo! Tech

“After careful consideration, including a management presentation and review of other due diligence materials provided by (Take-Two), EA has decided not to make a proposal to acquire Take-Two and has terminated discussions with Take-Two,” EA said in a statement.

Electronic Arts first made a $2 billion, $26 per share offer for Take-Two in February. When the Grand Theft Auto maker’s management rejected the offer, EA turned hostile, buying up as many shares as it could for the offer price. EA continued to extend the tender offer, but withdrew it last month, entering into private talks with Take-Two.

Take-Two issued a quick response to EA’s announcement, saying in part that the company remains “actively engaged in discussions with other parties in the context of our formal process to consider strategic alternatives” — in other words, that it is still considering potential suitors.

Take-Two’s stock price jumped considerably following the EA offer, but has been on a steady decline since then. It should be interesting to see if it drops all the way back down to February levels (around $17) when the markets open Monday.

EA, Take Two End Acquisition Talks | Game | Life from Wired.com