Electronic Arts Is Acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, & Affinity Partners
The deal has been closed.
In case you missed it
In case you missed it
Electronic Arts
On August 4, Electronic Arts, the gaming giant behind projects such as The Sims, EA FC, and Madden NFL, among others, announced that its acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners has been completed. The agreement was announced on September 29, 2025, and approved by EA stockholders last December.
The deal was originally set to close by the end of June but was delayed about a month while awaiting regulatory approval. Estimated at $ 50 billion before, the acquisition is said to amount to $55 billion, making it one of the largest take-private deals in the tech and gaming sector to date.
Chairman & CEO of Electronic Arts Andrew Wilson commented on the agreement, calling it a tribute to the studio's talent and the start of a new growth stage:
"This moment recognizes the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world's leading interactive entertainment companies," Wilson said. "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."
Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF, also shared his thoughts on the acquisition:
"Having been a minority investor in the company for more than five years, we have a deep understanding of EA's unique platform, massive global sports and gaming franchises, and iconic IP," Alnowaiser noted.
He continued, saying that entertainment and sports remain "key areas of strategic focus for PIF." Alnowaiser also added that the Consortium is uniquely positioned to be a "long-term partner to EA's management team in driving sustained growth and innovation for both the company and the industry."
Electronic Arts
PIF is Saudi Arabia's state-owned sovereign wealth fund; it has been strengthening its presence in the video game industry, owning stakes in Nintendo, SNK, Activision Blizzard, Capcom, Take-Two, and Embracer Group. Silver Lake is a private equity firm that focuses on technology and technology-enabled investments with HQ in New York City and California. Affinity Partners is an investment firm established in 2021 by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to estimates published in December, the Public Investment Fund is to own 93.4% of EA after the deal closes, effectively making it the studio's de facto owner, while the other partner, Silver Lake, is expected to hold 5.5%, with Affinity Partners taking 1.1%.
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