When EA canned its offer to buy Take-Two for $2 billion in September, Take-Two said that it was still in discussions with other parties about "strategic alternatives."

But on Thursday, Take-Two said that has officially ended all discussions with "various interested parties," opting to remain an independent publisher.

The news comes after EA withdrew its $2 billion bid for the Grand Theft Auto publisher in September.

Take-Two chair Strauss Zelnick stated that his company is "strongly positioned creatively, financially and competitively..."

CEO Ben Feder added, "Take-Two's recent performance demonstrates our potential to create value for the long term." He noted that the publisher has no debt and an undrawn $140 million credit facility.

Take-Two had rejected EA's offer of $25.74 per share, calling the bid "inadequate." After half a year of chasing the GTA maker, EA walked away.

Analyst Doug Creutz with Cowen and Company said in an investor note that Take-Two's conclusion of the strategic review process is a "formality."

"Given that Take-Two rejected EA's $26 offer we thought it was unlikely that any other bidder would make a richer offer given lesser synergy opportunities," he said.

"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."

Creutz said he feels Take-Two has become a stronger company since EA made its initial bid in February.

He added, "We believe the main overhang on TTWO shares remains the uncertain employment status of the key talent at Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games, with their contract set to expire in February 2009.

"However, in our view the financial and creative incentives are significantly in favor of Rockstar's talent remaining at Take-Two."

Creutz rates Take-Two shares at "outperform."

Shares in the company were down 4 percent to $15.23 in morning trading.