When you've got an MMORPG in the works, buying a social network startup may just be in your company's best interest. That maybe the case with EA Mythic, which is supposedly about to buy Shawn Fanning's social network gaming startup, Rupture, for US$ 30 million.

If you recall, Rupture produced such a social network for players Blizzard's World of Warcraft, but the network never left the beta phase. Rupture previously failed to secure many investors - it managed to rustle  together only US$ 2.5 to US$ 3 million in an angel funding round last summer.

Nonetheless, EA Mythic is supposedly buying the company for the technology behind it, not for its product per se - technology which EA Mythic may apply to Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

Both Fanning and Jon Baudanza - Rupture's co-founder - will apparently become employees of EA Mythic once the deal has been finalized, which may not be long from now. Until the latter company officially announces the acquisition, we'll be treating this as a rumor. Watch this space for more updates.