Electronic Arts (EA) will be taken private in a $55 billion sale to a consortium comprising Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake Partners, and Jared Kushner’s private equity firm Affinity Partners. The deal marks the second-largest acquisition in video game history, after Microsoft’s $75.4 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard in 2023 [1, 2, 3].
All regulatory approvals for the merger were secured by July 30, 2026, allowing the companies to expect closing on or around August 4, 2026, which will end EA's 35-year history as a publicly traded company. EA confirmed that CEO Andrew Wilson is expected to remain in his position following the transition [1, 2, 3].
EA will maintain its headquarters in Redwood City, California, keeping its operational base despite the change in ownership [1, 3]. The publisher has faced a mixed recent history, including layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations, though it celebrated the commercial success of Battlefield 6 following its October 2025 release [1, 3].
The deal has drawn criticism from the United Videogame Workers-CWA union and some US lawmakers. The union warned that "every time private equity or billionaire investors take a studio private, workers lose visibility, transparency, and power," raising concerns about jobs, creative freedom, and decision-making under the new ownership, especially given Saudi Arabia’s controversial human rights record [2].
Electronic Arts stated, "As of July 30, 2026, all regulatory approvals required to complete the Merger have been obtained. Electronic Arts currently expects the Merger to close on or about the close of trading on August 4, 2026" [1].
The closing of the sale next week will mark a significant shift for EA, removing it from public markets and placing it under private control by a high-profile investment group.
