EA Sports FC and Battlefield publisher EA has been taken private by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The move means the U.S. juggernaut is no longer a publicly-traded entity and is now majority owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its PIF investment arm. Other investors include Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the latter of which was established by U.S. president Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The $55 billion transaction was financed via a combination of cash from PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners as well as roll-over of PIF’s existing stake in EA—constituting an equity investment of approximately $36 billion. Notably, $20 billion of debt financing was provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank.
The deal cleared the necessary regulatory hurdles in July, paving the way for its completion at the close of trading on August 4, 2026. It was approved by regulators in major markets such as the European Union and the United States without incident, despite lawmakers and union leaders in the U.S. calling on the Federal Trade Commission to heavily scrutinize the leveraged buyout over geopolitical and employment concerns.
Saudi Arabia has made significant inroads into the video game industry over the past decade through various investment vehicles including PIF, Savvy Games Group, and the Misk Foundation. Through those organizations, the country and its leaders have acquired stakes in major companies including Nintendo, Capcom, Scopely, Nexon, Take-Two, SNK, and more.
Those investments have drawn widespread criticism over fears the Saudi government could use video games as a means of culture washing.
PIF, for instance, is chaired by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been accused by Amnesty International of facilitating widespread oppression. He has also been linked to the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and continues to face questions about his alleged involvement in the killing.
Last year, EA insisted it will retain creative control under its new owners and claimed the move won’t result in “immediate” layoffs. In an employee FAQ posted after the deal was announced, the company said its “track record of creative freedom and player-first values will remain intact.”
EA will remain headquartered in Redwood City, California, under the leadership of (handsomely compensated) CEO Andrew Wilson, who said the publisher is now entering a new chapter from a “position of strength.”
“This moment recognizes the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies,” said Wilson. “We’re entering this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition. Together, we’ll 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.”