Electronic Arts acquisition by Saudi-led consortium to be completed on Tuesday
Electronic Arts has announced that its $55 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is scheduled to close on August 4. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), all required regulatory approvals had been obtained by July 30, allowing the transaction to move forward. The deal was originally expected to close before the end of EA’s fiscal year in June, but was delayed by approximately one month while awaiting final approvals. The European Commission was among the last regulators to approve the acquisition, concluding that it raised no competition concerns in the video game or esports markets.
Dominant shareholder
The acquiring consortium consists of the Saudi PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, an investment firm led by Jared Kushner. The Saudi PIF will become the dominant shareholder, holding 93.4% of EA after the transaction, while Silver Lake will own 5.5% and Affinity Partners 1.1%. The purchase is financed through $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt.
Once the acquisition is completed, EA will become a privately held company after more than 35 years as a publicly traded business. As a result, it will no longer be required to publish public financial reports. Andrew Wilson will remain Chief Executive Officer.
$20 billion debt
The $20 billion debt associated with the transaction will be carried by EA, leading analysts to expect additional cost-cutting measures, including further layoffs. Since the acquisition was announced in September 2025, the company has already carried out several rounds of job cuts, including at the studio behind Battlefield 6, despite the game's successful launch.
Increased financial burden
The increased financial burden could also affect players, as EA may face greater pressure to generate revenue. A recent example was College Football 27, where the company introduced microtransactions into the single-player Dynasty and Road to Glory modes without prior notice, allowing players to speed up their progress by spending real money. Following criticism and boycott calls, EA removed the purchase options on July 11.