Electronic Arts investors have approved the sale of the video game publisher to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in a transaction valued at $55 billion, clearing a major hurdle for one of the largest acquisitions ever in the global gaming industry.
Under the terms of the deal, the Saudi fund will acquire 93.4% of Electronic Arts at $210 per share, while the remaining 6.6% will be purchased by private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Regulatory approvals are still required, but the shareholder vote effectively locks in the transaction’s core structure.
The agreement would take Electronic Arts private, ending decades of public-market scrutiny and quarterly earnings pressure. Company leadership has indicated that private ownership could provide greater flexibility to invest long term in game development, live services, and emerging technologies without the short-term expectations of public investors.
Why Saudi Arabia Is Betting Big on Gaming
The acquisition is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to diversify its economy away from oil and build a global presence in entertainment, technology, and media. Gaming has emerged as a central pillar of that effort, with the kingdom already holding stakes across publishers, esports platforms, and development studios worldwide.
By acquiring Electronic Arts, the Saudi fund gains control of one of the industry’s most valuable franchises and development pipelines, spanning sports, action, and live-service games with hundreds of millions of active players globally. The move positions Saudi Arabia as a long-term power broker in interactive entertainment rather than a passive financial investor.
For Electronic Arts, the deal offers financial certainty at a premium valuation while opening access to deep capital resources. Executives have emphasized that the company will continue to operate independently, with its headquarters, management, and creative teams remaining in place.
Implications for the Gaming Industry and Markets
The transaction signals a shift in how global capital views gaming assets, with sovereign wealth funds increasingly willing to deploy large sums to secure strategic positions in cultural and digital industries. Analysts say the deal could accelerate consolidation across gaming, as other publishers reassess their valuations and ownership structures.
The takeover may also reignite debate around foreign ownership, content oversight, and creative independence, particularly as regulators review the transaction. While shareholder approval reflects strong investor confidence, regulatory scrutiny could focus on competition, data governance, and geopolitical considerations tied to sovereign ownership.
If finalized, the acquisition would rank among the largest private buyouts in technology and entertainment history, reinforcing gaming’s evolution from a niche sector into a core pillar of the global digital economy.
