Video game giant Electronic Arts closes $55 billion go-private sale of its business
The Saudi-led consortium will cut $700 million in annual costs as EA leaves public markets and takes on about $18 billion in debt.
- On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund , Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners completed a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, taking the publisher private and delisting its shares from the Nasdaq.
- Financed by JPMorgan, the $20 billion debt structure makes this the largest leveraged buyout in history, forcing EA to prioritize immediate operational changes to manage substantial annual interest payments.
- Management plans to cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million in "organizational efficiencies," as the company focuses on aggressive cost-cutting to maintain profitability under new ownership.
- While CEO Andrew Wilson retains his position, analysts warn the debt burden could force studio closures, mass layoffs, and intellectual property sell-offs, prioritizing bankable franchises over experimental development.
- Critics have labeled the move as "sportswashing," citing Saudi Arabia's human rights record, while the government frames the acquisition as economic diversification away from oil dependence.
113 Articles
113 Articles
We read that video games sell millions of copies and make huge profits for their studios or developers, but established game studios continue to be sold off. The latest victim is EA.
EA's $55bn sale to Saudi-led group closes — $700 million in cuts on the horizon
The deal, which includes Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, takes EA private and loads the company with $18 billion in debt. Electronic Arts has told debt investors it plans to cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million tied to "organizational efficiencies," as the company completes its $55 billion sale to a Saudi-led group. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, citing the company's disclosures, interpreted that phrase bluntly …
Associated Press News
Video game giant Electronic Arts closes $55 billion go-private sale of its business
Video game giant Electronic Arts officially has new owners. The California-based maker of popular titles like “Battlefield” and “The Sims” announced Tuesday that it closed the $55 billion sale of its business to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm Silver Lake Partners and Affin
Group Led by Saudi Arabia Completes $55 Billion Acquisition of Gaming Giant EA
A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has finalized a $55 billion takeover of video game giant EA, with financing support from Silver Lake and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners. The terms of the deal, including $20 billion borrowed from JPMorgan, make it the largest leveraged buyout on record. The post Group Led by Saudi Arabia Completes $55 Billion Acquisition of Gaming Giant EA appeared first on Breitbart.
Donald Trump’s son-in-law is now linked to the $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts
One of gaming’s largest publishers has officially changed hands. Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion sale after months of regulatory approvals, bringing one of the industry’s biggest publishers under new ownership. With the acquisition complete, attention has shifted to the group that now owns the company. As first reported by Kotaku, that includes Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner, whose private equity firm, Affinity Partners, …
The sale of the giant of the video games Electronic Arts, for a record value of 55 billion dollars (48 billion euros), with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia to present itself as the great investor in the legendary American technology. Remember that Electronic Arts produces and markets games like FIFA and The Sims, titles that are among the most sold worldwide. But not only the Saudis are among the new investors of technology. Aff…
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