Saudi-Backed Consortium Agrees $55bn Deal to Take Electronic Arts Private

A Saudi Arabia-backed consortium has agreed a landmark deal to acquire video game giant Electronic Arts (EA) for $55 billion, taking the company private in one of the biggest buyouts the technology and media sector has ever seen. The agreement, led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) alongside U.S. private equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, will see shareholders receive $210 per share, a 25 per cent premium on recent trading levels, with the company expected to be delisted following completion.

The buyers are structuring the deal with approximately $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt, syndicated by J.P. Morgan Chase. PIF, which already holds close to a 10 per cent stake in EA, will roll over its holding into the new private entity. EA’s existing leadership team, including chief executive Andrew Wilson, is set to remain in place, with the company continuing to operate from its California headquarters.

The acquisition is designed to remove EA from the short-term demands of quarterly reporting, freeing it to make longer-term investments in innovation, new game development and expansion into emerging platforms. For the consortium, the deal represents far more than a financial transaction. It is the latest in a string of high-profile gaming investments by Saudi Arabia, which has placed the sector at the centre of its Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. Through its Savvy Games Group, PIF has already acquired mobile publisher Scopely for $4.9 billion and invested heavily in esports and gaming infrastructure. Taking control of EA’s iconic catalogue, which includes global franchises such as EA Sports FC, Madden, Battlefield, The Sims and Apex Legends, signals a shift from being a financial investor in gaming to a true operator and content powerhouse.

The move is intended to elevate Saudi Arabia’s influence on the global gaming stage, adding world-class intellectual property and long-term recurring revenue streams to its portfolio. It also bolsters the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a hub for digital entertainment, esports and interactive media, helping attract talent and investment into the domestic market. For the broader gaming industry, the deal could accelerate EA’s involvement in new technologies such as immersive platforms and esports, while giving Saudi Arabia unprecedented access to global fan bases and communities.

The takeover is not without its risks. The scale of leverage being used adds pressure on EA to maintain strong cash flows, while the consortium will need to balance Saudi strategic priorities with the creative independence of EA’s developer culture. Regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions could also present hurdles. However, if executed effectively, the deal has the potential to reshape not just EA’s future but the global gaming landscape, with Saudi Arabia positioned as a major force in one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment industries.