Saudi Arabia acquires EA in $55bn takeover

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund finalized its $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, converting the video game publisher into a privately held company in the largest leveraged buyout ever recorded.

The transaction, first revealed last September, concluded this week. EA shares no longer trade on NASDAQ, and the Saudi fund now controls nearly 94% of the company. Silver Lake Partners retains 5.5%, while Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner, holds 1.1%.

Silver Lake, an investment firm specializing in technology, and Affinity Partners share the remainder. Affinity faces scrutiny from the House Judiciary Committee over possible conflicts of interest tied to Kushner’s previous role as Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East during the Trump administration.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson described the sale as the beginning of a transformative period. “We’re entering this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition,” he stated. “Together, we’ll invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences for the hundreds of millions of players and fans who inspire us.”

Existing franchises such as Madden, FC, and Apex Legends should continue without significant changes. The company’s live-service titles, which provide consistent revenue, will likely remain central to its strategy.

Smaller studios face greater uncertainty. BioWare and Maxis, creators of Mass Effect and The Sims, have unclear futures. Maxis faced backlash last year over concerns that its inclusive storytelling might clash with the values of EA’s new owners. The studio has long included LGBTQ+ characters and themes in its games.

As a private company, EA will no longer host public shareholder calls, reducing transparency. The new owners reportedly plan to reduce costs through AI, a contentious topic in game development. The Financial Times highlighted the buyers’ focus on automation, though no specific layoff plans or AI integration details have been shared.

No official timeline for job cuts exists. EA has not revealed how individual studios or franchises will be impacted, leaving employees and players uncertain.

Private ownership often means fewer public disclosures and less oversight. The first major post-sale projects will reveal the true direction over the coming year.

The acquisition aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader push into entertainment and technology as part of its Vision 2030 initiative to reduce oil dependence.