Electronic Arts (EA), the video game giant that produces a long series of titles, from EA Sports FC (formerly Fifa) to The Sims, from Madden to Battlefield, announced on Monday its acquisition by a consortium of investors led by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The deal values EA at approximately 55 billion dollars. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2026 and requires approval from EA shareholders and regulatory authorities.
The consortium also includes US investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the Miami-based company founded by Jared Kushner, former White House advisor and son-in-law of President Donald Trump.
"This transaction is a powerful recognition of their extraordinary work," EA President and CEO Andrew Wilson said in a statement, referring to the company's employees and adding that the deal will help "unlock new opportunities on the global stage."
Major Saudi investment in video games
EA reported revenues of 7.5 billion dollars in the last fiscal year. Saudi Arabia's PIF already holds a 9.9% stake in EA. The transaction will be financed with approximately 36 billion dollars in equity from consortium members and 20 billion dollars in debt committed by JP Morgan Chase.
Once the transaction is completed, EA will be delisted from the Nasdaq stock exchange. The company will maintain its headquarters in Redwood City, California. The deal marks the PIF's latest major investment in the video game sector, as Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its economy.