EA sold in record $55bn private equity deal backed by Saudi fund

Gaming giant Electronic Arts (EA) has agreed to be acquired in a landmark $55bn deal, marking the largest leveraged buyout in history. The takeover consortium includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), private equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.

The deal, which values EA at $210 per share—25% above its market price—will take the company private, ending its run on public stock exchanges. It is the second-largest gaming acquisition ever, following Microsoft’s $69bn purchase of Activision Blizzard.

EA, the publisher behind franchises such as EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), The Sims, and Mass Effect, will continue to be led by CEO Andrew Wilson. “Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come,” Wilson said.

The buyers will inject roughly $36bn in equity, with the remainder financed through loans. Industry analysts warn the resulting $20bn debt burden could impact EA’s ability to fund new projects, sparking concerns of cost-cutting and restructuring.

The deal also significantly strengthens Saudi Arabia’s presence in global gaming. The kingdom, through its PIF and Savvy Games Group, has already acquired stakes in companies like Nintendo, Take-Two, Niantic, and Scopely. The EA purchase cements its strategy to become a major force in both gaming and esports.