Video game giant Electronic Arts closes $55 billion go-private sale of
its business
[August 06, 2026] CHICAGO
(AP) — Video game giant Electronic Arts officially has new owners.
The California-based maker of popular titles like “Battlefield” and “The
Sims” announced Tuesday that it closed the $55 billion sale of its
business to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm
Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, which is run by U.S.
President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The acquisition's price tag is the largest-ever for a buyout funded by
private equity. And wider shifts to the gaming world could be on the way
now that the deal is complete.
In a statement, CEO Andrew Wilson said EA and its new owners would
“invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of
games and experiences for the hundreds of millions of players and fans
who inspire us every day.” And Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor and
head of international investments at PIF — which already held a minority
stake in EA for five years — also pledged to “invest heavily in EA’s
growth,” including through the use of artificial intelligence in game
development.
Some analysts have noted that going private could potentially grant EA
more freedom in developing and distributing future games outside
pressures of the public market. But others point to the $20 billion in
debt financing the deal took on — which could result in sizable layoffs
and other cost-cutting measures.
And many eyes are on Saudi Arabia’s PIF and Kushner's Affinity Partners.
Critics are wary about what this new ownership could mean for EA games
down the road.
“With this deal, Saudi Arabia and Jared Kushner just bought access to
700 million players worldwide," U.K.-based campaign #BlockTheEADeal
wrote in an online petition that previously called on regulators to
challenge the buyout. "With the increased use of AI in the creative
sector and video games, the potential for data misuse by a Foreign
Sovereignty is high and poses significant international security risks.”
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Electronic Arts' office and studio complex is seen in an aerial
view, in Burnaby, British Columbia, on Sept. 29, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The
Canadian Press via AP, File)
 In a Tuesday statement, Kushner
maintained that EA had “created stories, characters, and communities
that have become part of everyday life for hundreds of millions of
people” and that Affinity was “excited to support the company as it
continues to reach new audiences.”
Meanwhile, organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights
Watch have also been highly critical of Saudi Arabia’s overall
investments in sports and esports — with some accusing the nation of
“sportswashing” to distract international attention from human
rights abuses.
PIF has increasingly upped its gaming investments over the years.
Beyond EA, the sovereign fund is also a minority investor in fellow
gaming giant Nintendo and has a large esports portfolio, including
competitive gaming platforms like ESL FACEIT. EA’s “Madden NFL” and
“EA Sports FC” (formerly FIFA) will now also fall under that
umbrella.
Now that the transaction is complete, EA stockholders will receive
$210 in cash per share. And the company's stock is no longer trading
on the public market.
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