Electronic Arts has officially completed its $55 billion acquisition, ending the publisher’s 36-year period as a publicly traded company.
EA is now owned by a private investor consortium consisting of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The transaction was initially announced in September 2025 and has now received the approvals required to close.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund holds the overwhelming majority of the company. Previous regulatory filings indicated that PIF would control approximately 93.4% of EA, while Silver Lake would own around 5.5% and Affinity Partners would retain the remaining 1.1%.
PIF had already invested in Electronic Arts for several years before the acquisition. The sovereign wealth fund also maintains interests across the wider gaming industry, including investments in other publishers and full ownership of SNK.
The purchase forms part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to expand its entertainment and technology sectors while reducing the country’s economic dependence on oil revenue. Gaming, esports, and sports have become important areas of investment within that strategy.
EA chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson will continue leading the company following the ownership change. He described the deal as the beginning of a new period in which EA plans to increase investment, accelerate innovation, and develop future games and interactive experiences.
PIF representatives said the consortium intends to act as a long-term partner for EA’s management. The investors highlighted the publisher’s global sports properties, established gaming franchises, and portfolio of recognizable intellectual property as major strengths.
Becoming a private company means EA will no longer face the same quarterly reporting obligations associated with public markets. This may give management greater flexibility when making long-term decisions, although it will also reduce public access to detailed financial information.
The acquisition has raised concerns about how the new ownership could affect EA’s studios, creative decisions, and company values. Maxis, the developer behind The Sims, previously assured players that the transition would not change its commitment to inclusion or its creative principles.
Saudi Arabia’s expanding presence in global entertainment continues to attract criticism because of the country’s human rights record. Advocacy organizations have highlighted restrictions affecting women, activists, journalists, and LGBTQI+ people.
The involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also remained controversial following assessments by United States intelligence concerning the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
EA has not announced immediate changes to its leadership, development schedule, studios, or active franchises. The long-term impact of the acquisition will become clearer as the new owners outline their investment priorities and the publisher begins operating outside the public stock market.
