A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has officially completed its $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA), taking the video game publisher private after more than three decades as a publicly traded company. The transaction ranks among the largest buyouts in gaming history and is the second-largest acquisition the industry has ever seen.
The investor group also includes Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Jared Kushner. Following the completion of the transaction, PIF controls approximately 93.4% of the newly private company, while Silver Lake and Affinity Partners hold the remaining stakes.
EA Leaves the Public Market
The deal marks the end of Electronic Arts’ 36-year run as a publicly traded company.
Founded in 1982, EA has become one of the world’s largest video game publishers through franchises including EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, Madden NFL, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Need for Speed.
Shareholders received $210 per share in cash, while CEO Andrew Wilson will continue leading the company following the acquisition. The headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California.
Saudi Arabia Expands Its Gaming Ambitions
The acquisition is another major step in Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy to become a global force in the gaming industry.
Through the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom has invested billions of dollars across gaming, esports, and interactive entertainment as part of its broader economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030. The purchase of EA adds one of the industry’s largest publishers to a portfolio that already includes investments in several major gaming companies.
For Saudi Arabia, the deal provides ownership of some of the world’s most recognizable gaming franchises while expanding its presence across both video games and esports.
Why Take EA Private?
Analysts believe private ownership could allow EA to focus on long-term investments without the pressure of quarterly earnings expectations.
The company has faced slowing revenue growth in recent years as development costs increased and competition intensified across the gaming industry. At the same time, publishers are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, live-service games, and larger development budgets.
Operating as a private company may give management greater flexibility to restructure operations, invest in new technologies, and prioritize long-term growth initiatives away from public market scrutiny.
One of Gaming’s Biggest Buyouts
The transaction also represents one of the largest leveraged buyouts ever completed in the technology sector.
After receiving regulatory approvals in multiple jurisdictions, including the European Union, the acquisition officially closed this week. The completion of the deal underscores the continued willingness of sovereign wealth funds to deploy capital into global technology, entertainment, and digital media assets despite a challenging environment for mergers and acquisitions.
