The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund's newly completed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts may not stop at EA alone. The Saudi wealth fund is exploring a merger between EA and Savvy Games Group, its existing gaming subsidiary, to create a consolidated mega-publisher that would house all gaming investments under one entity.
This development emerges just over a month after the consortium led by the PIF, alongside investment groups including those connected to Jared Kushner, finalized their takeover of EA. The buyout marked one of the largest acquisitions in gaming history and transformed EA into a privately held company under Saudi ownership. Now the new owners are considering their next strategic move: combining EA's massive portfolio, publishing infrastructure, and development capabilities with Savvy Games Group's existing operations.
Savvy Games Group itself represents a significant player in the industry. The Saudi-backed firm has been acquiring stakes in multiple studios and publishing deals, positioning itself as an emerging force in global game publishing. The company has invested in titles across various genres and platforms, building a diverse portfolio that spans mobile, console, and PC gaming. A merger with EA would dramatically accelerate that growth trajectory.
The rationale behind the merger is straightforward from a corporate perspective. EA owns franchises including Madden NFL, NBA Live, FIFA (rebranded as EA Sports FC after losing the FIFA license), The Sims, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and numerous other IP across sports, action, role-playing, and simulation genres. Combining this with Savvy Games Group's existing holdings and future acquisition targets would create an unparalleled publishing conglomerate backed by Saudi Arabia's vast capital reserves.
Such a consolidation would reshape the competitive landscape significantly. Electronic Arts currently ranks as one of the "Big Three" publishers alongside Activision Blizzard and Take-Two Interactive. A merged entity controlling both EA and Savvy Games would possess even greater market dominance, controlling distribution channels, development studios, and franchises across virtually every major gaming category.
The move also reflects the PIF's broader strategy to position Saudi Arabia as a major player in global gaming and entertainment. Beyond gaming acquisitions, the Saudi wealth fund has invested heavily in esports, esports venues, and gaming technology. Merging EA with Savvy Games consolidates this vision into a single corporate vehicle capable of competing with existing publishers on a global scale.
However, such a merger would face regulatory scrutiny. While EA's previous ownership structure as a public company made it subject to shareholder approval requirements, its current private status under Saudi ownership simplifies internal decision-making. The merger itself may draw attention from competition regulators in various jurisdictions concerned about market concentration, particularly given the Saudi government's direct involvement.
The timing suggests the PIF is thinking strategically about its gaming portfolio structure. Rather than operating multiple entities independently, consolidation offers operational efficiencies, unified decision-making, and clearer brand positioning in a competitive market. For players, developers, and competitors, this potential merger represents a significant shift in industry power dynamics and corporate structure.