Electronic Arts has been bought by Saudi Arabia's wealth fund and a group of investors for $55bn, ending its 36-year run as a public company. The buyer group includes Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and Silver Lake Partners, and the deal closed only days after EU regulators gave final approval.
The studio behind The Sims, Madden NFL and Battlefield is going private after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and a group of investors completed a $55bn (£41bn) buyout on Tuesday evening. The deal ranks among the biggest buyouts on record and closed only days after the EU issued the final regulatory approval it needed.
Kushner-linked fund joins the buyer group
The PIF is joined by Affinity Partners, the private equity firm run by Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and by Silver Lake Partners. According to the Guardian, Kushner said: "EA has created stories, characters, and communities that have become part of everyday life", adding that the group wants to support EA as it reaches new audiences. The Saudi royal family has been investing in gaming and esports for some time, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has a reputation for being a gamer himself.
Revenue has stagnated as competition builds
EA's annual revenues have hovered between $7.4bn and $7.6bn in recent years even as its games retain a dedicated fanbase. Competition from mobile game makers such as Epic Games has intensified, and rival Activision Blizzard was bought by Microsoft for almost $69bn in 2023. Going private frees EA from reporting results every quarter, which some analysts say can remove some pressure to meet targets.
Job cuts have preceded the deal
Formerly public companies often see job cuts once they go private, though there is no suggestion this will happen at EA. The company already laid off about 5% of its workforce in 2024, had 14,500 employees in March 2025, and cut several hundred jobs in May. On Monday, EA reported lower than expected quarterly revenue, which it blamed on falling engagement with its latest Battlefield game.
The company was founded in 1982 by former Apple employee William "Trip" Hawkins and has been led by chief executive Andrew Wilson since 2013; it now answers to a sovereign wealth fund and two private equity firms rather than public shareholders.
Source: Business | The Guardian
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