EA Acquisition Completed, Company Goes Private Under PIF-Led Consortium
The completion makes EA one of the largest video game publishers to be taken private by a sovereign wealth fund, shifting its strategy from quarterly shareholder demands to long-term investment with substantial financial backing.
Key Facts
- Electronic Arts completed its acquisition by a consortium of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners on August 4, 2026.
- EA shareholders will receive $210 in cash per share of common stock, and EA shares will be delisted from the NASDAQ.
- The acquisition was valued at $55 billion, with about $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt financing.
- Andrew Wilson will continue as chairman and CEO of EA, which remains headquartered in Redwood City, California.
- EA reported approximately $7.5 billion in net revenue on a GAAP basis for fiscal year 2026.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark.
Electronic Arts announced on August 4 that its acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, has been officially completed. The deal, first agreed upon on September 29, 2025, received shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting on December 22 of that year. With the transaction closed, EA shareholders will receive $210 in cash per share of common stock, and the company's shares will cease trading on the NASDAQ, making EA a privately held company. The consortium's funding includes approximately $36 billion in equity contributions and about $20 billion in loans from banks including JPMorgan Chase. Andrew Wilson will remain chairman and CEO, with the company headquartered in Redwood City, California. In a statement, Wilson said the partners share the company's vision and ambition, and that together they will make bold investments and build next-generation games for hundreds of millions of players. PIF Vice President Turki Alnowaiser noted PIF has been a minority shareholder in EA for over five years and views gaming and esports as key focus areas. Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban indicated plans to invest in using AI to improve game development and player experiences.
The acquisition, valued at $55 billion, was first announced in late September 2025 and cleared all regulatory approvals by late July 2026. The consortium's funding structure includes about $36 billion in equity from the investors and roughly $20 billion in debt from banks including JPMorgan Chase. EA's financial advisor was Goldman Sachs Securities, with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as legal advisor; the consortium was advised by Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins, with J.P. Morgan Securities as financial advisor.
EA reported approximately $7.5 billion in net revenue on a GAAP basis for fiscal year 2026. The company holds major franchises including EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, Plants vs. Zombies, and EA SPORTS F1. PIF has been a minority shareholder in EA for over five years, and its vice president, Turki Alnowaiser, said the fund will support EA's long-term growth and innovation. Affinity Partners CEO Jared Kushner said he wants to support EA in expanding its fan base and nurturing the next generation of creators.
Some U.S. lawmakers and labor union representatives had asked the FTC to scrutinize the acquisition over concerns about American companies and employment, and critics have raised the issue of 'culture washing' regarding Saudi investments in gaming. EA has said its values of creative freedom and player-first thinking will not change, and it does not plan immediate layoffs related to the acquisition.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.