EA announced the $55 billion leveraged buyout is set to close next week, with all required regulatory approvals finalized. The deal will take the gaming publisher private through a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, the investment vehicle founded by Jared Kushner.
The European Commission greenlit the acquisition just days earlier, determining it raised no competition concerns in the gaming market. This approval removed a major regulatory hurdle for the transaction. EA confirmed all necessary clearances are now in place, clearing the path for closure.
The acquisition represents one of the largest gaming industry buyouts ever. It marks a significant shift in EA's structure from a publicly traded company to private ownership dominated by sovereign wealth and private equity capital. The deal signals growing interest from Middle Eastern capital in gaming and interactive entertainment assets.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has aggressively pursued gaming and entertainment investments in recent years, viewing the sector as a strategic growth area. This EA acquisition underscores that commitment at massive scale. Silver Lake, one of the world's largest technology-focused private equity firms, brings operational expertise in scaling and optimizing tech-heavy businesses.
The closure ends a months-long regulatory review period that included scrutiny from competition authorities across multiple jurisdictions. EA's player base and investor stakeholders will now operate under private ownership focused on long-term value creation rather than quarterly earnings reports to shareholders.
The closure should occur within days, finalizing one of gaming's most significant ownership transitions. This structure gives EA's new owners substantial flexibility in strategic decisions, investment timelines, and operational direction without public market pressures.