EA Bought for $55B — Saudi PIF, Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Take Gaming Giant Private
Electronic Arts confirmed Monday that it agreed to be acquired by a group of private investors led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners for $55 billion. According to EA, the offer would take the company private and is the second-largest transaction in gaming history, behind Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard; EA also said the deal positions the company to accelerate growth and innovation. For the original announcement, see the company’s press release.
1. Deal overview
2. Who is involved
3. Financial terms and debt
4. What it means for EA’s games
5. Concerns and controversies
6. Official quotes
Deal overview
The buyer group agreed to acquire Electronic Arts for $55 billion, making it the second-largest deal in the video games industry to date. EA will go private after being a public company since 1990. As part of the transaction, Andrew Wilson will continue as EA’s chairman and CEO.
Who is involved
The buyers include Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) through its investment network, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Jared Kushner. Affinity’s CEO Jared Kushner commented on the acquisition in the company’s release.
Financial terms and debt
The $55 billion purchase will be accompanied by roughly $20 billion in debt that is being financed by JPMorgan Chase Bank. Industry analyst Mat Piscatella called that debt figure “a shockingly large number to have to service.” You can view his post on Bluesky.
Moreover, reports say the buyers expect to pursue cost efficiencies — including AI-driven tools — to boost profits, according to the Financial Times. Analysts also told Reuters that the deal could free EA to focus on longer-term projects that might have been harder to justify as a public company.
What it means for EA’s games
EA currently gets more than 70% of its revenue from live-service titles such as Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, and The Sims 4. Therefore, those franchises are likely to remain priorities for the company.
EA said its next major release, Battlefield 6, is scheduled for October. However, beyond the company’s statement that its values and commitments remain the same, the exact long-term roadmap for specific franchises and development teams was not detailed in the announcement.
In recent years EA has announced workforce reductions: the company cut roughly 670 roles in 2024 and then another 300–400 in May of this year, which analysts note as context for how the new ownership might approach costs and operations.
Concerns and controversies
The PIF’s growing investment in gaming has already raised debate. For context, the fund — via its Savvy Games Group — has taken stakes in multiple gaming and media companies and has been linked to conversations about sportswashing. For a discussion of that term, see this explainer from UNSW Human Rights.
Some critics also point to human rights concerns tied to senior figures in Saudi leadership; for example, reporting on allegations about Mohammed bin Salman and the Jamal Khashoggi case is available in The New York Times’ coverage here. Additionally, observers have noted that Savvy Games Group–linked companies have made other large moves in the sector, such as Scopely acquiring Niantic for $3.5 billion earlier this year.
Official quotes
Andrew Wilson, chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts, said in a company release:
“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” said Andrew Wilson, chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts, in a news release. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”
In an internal message to staff, Wilson added: “Our values and our commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged.” You can read EA’s employee message here.
Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners, said in a release:
“Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future,” Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners, said in a news release. “I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games — and now enjoys them with his kids — I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”
Industry commentary noted the size of the debt component: Mat Piscatella called the $20 billion figure “a shockingly large number to have to service.” His comment is available on Bluesky.
