Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion sale to a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, ending 36 years as a publicly traded company.
Good to Know
PIF holds nearly all of the new private company, despite sharing ownership with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Silver Lake owns 5.5%, while Affinity Partners holds 1.1%.
The acquisition closed on August 4 after shareholders approved it in December 2025. EA shares no longer trade on Nasdaq. At $55 billion, the transaction ranks as the largest private equity funded buyout on record.
“This moment recognizes the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies,” Wilson said.
EA enters private ownership with major franchises including EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Battlefield, Apex Legends and The Sims. PIF had already owned about 10% of the publisher before rolling that holding into the acquisition.
The deal also carries around $20 billion in debt financing. That structure may increase demands for stronger cash flow from established franchises, although EA has not announced studio closures or changes to its game portfolio.
Silver Lake CEO Egon Durban said the consortium plans to invest in game development and player experiences, including artificial intelligence.
“As long-term investors in technology, we admire how EA’s innovation fuels imagination and human connection,” Durban said.
“We’re proud to join with PIF and Affinity Partners to invest heavily in EA’s growth, including what AI can do to enhance game development and player experience, and excited to partner with Andrew and the EA team as they raise the bar for fans everywhere.”
Questions remain over how PIF control could affect creative decisions and inclusive franchises such as The Sims. Critics have linked the concern to the human rights record of Saudi Arabia, while Wilson previously said EA values would remain unchanged. No policy changes accompanied the completion announcement.