Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion sale to a consortium comprising Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, technology investor Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, taking one of the world's largest video game publishers private. The California company announced the closing on Tuesday, and the Associated Press reported the completed transaction on Wednesday, describing it as the largest buyout ever funded by private equity.
EA shareholders will receive $210 in cash for each share, and the company's stock no longer trades on a public market. When the agreement was announced in September 2025, EA said the price represented a 25% premium to its unaffected closing price of $168.32 on September 25. PIF rolled its existing 9.9% holding into the transaction, while the buyers agreed to acquire the remainder.
The financing plan disclosed by EA combined about $36 billion of consortium equity with $20 billion of committed debt financing from JPMorgan Chase, of which $18 billion was expected to be funded at closing. EA will remain headquartered in Redwood City, California, and Andrew Wilson will continue as chief executive, according to the company's transaction materials.
EA develops franchises including EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Battlefield, Apex Legends and The Sims. The company reported approximately $7.5 billion in GAAP net revenue in fiscal 2025. PIF, which had held a minority EA stake for five years, has also expanded across gaming and esports through investments including Nintendo and the ESL FACEIT competitive-gaming business, AP reported.
Wilson said in a company statement that the new owners intend to invest, accelerate innovation and develop a new generation of games for hundreds of millions of players. PIF investment executive Turqi Alnowaiser said the fund plans to support EA's growth, including the use of artificial intelligence in game development. Supporters argue private ownership may give EA more room to make long-term decisions away from quarterly market pressure.
The leveraged structure also creates new scrutiny. AP cited analysts who warned that roughly $20 billion of debt could increase pressure for cost reductions or layoffs, while critics have questioned the influence of PIF and Affinity, the investment firm led by Jared Kushner. The immediate financial change is settled: shareholders receive cash, EA leaves public markets, and its new owners now bear responsibility for turning their promised investment into growth without weakening the studios and franchises behind the company's value.
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