Video game giant Electronic Arts closes $55 billion go-private sale of its business
The Saudi-led consortium will cut $700 million in annual costs as EA leaves public markets and takes on about $18 billion in debt.
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund , Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners completed a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, taking the publisher private and delisting its shares from the Nasdaq.
- Financed by JPMorgan, the $20 billion debt structure makes this the largest leveraged buyout in history, forcing EA to prioritize immediate operational changes to manage substantial annual interest payments.
- Management plans to cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million in "organizational efficiencies," as the company focuses on aggressive cost-cutting to maintain profitability under new ownership.
- While CEO Andrew Wilson retains his position, analysts warn the debt burden could force studio closures, mass layoffs, and intellectual property sell-offs, prioritizing bankable franchises over experimental development.
- Critics have labeled the move as "sportswashing," citing Saudi Arabia's human rights record, while the government frames the acquisition as economic diversification away from oil dependence.
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EA is known for its numerous game series featuring representation of sexual and gender minorities.
PIF-led consortium completes acquisition of EA in landmark gaming deal
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, has completed its acquisition of video game giant Electronic Arts (EA), bringing one of the world's biggest gaming companies under private ownership and marking another major milestone in the Kingdom's global gaming ambitions.The deal, first announced in September 2025 and approved by EA shareholders in December, o…
EA Acquisition by Saudi-Led Consortium Now Complete
EA has officially completed its $55 billion acquisition, closing one of the biggest deals in the gaming industry. The publisher is no longer a publicly traded company after a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, or PIF, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The acquisition was first announced in September 2025, and marks the largest leveraged buyout in gaming history. Announced on August 2, 2026, the massive business move …
Saudi-led group completes $55 billion buyout of gaming giant Electronic Arts
Saudi Arabia · DEALS Key Facts —Deal value: The consortium paid $55 billion all-cash for Electronic Arts, making it the largest leveraged buyout in history. —Buyer consortium: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, US private equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners led the acquisition. —Ownership split: PIF controls roughly 93.4% of EA post-closing, […] The post Saudi-led group completes $55 billion buyout of gaming giant …
Among the buyers is also an investment company led by Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
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