EA acquisition by PIF-led consortium officially completed as gaming giant begins new era

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, has officially completed its acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA).

The transaction was first announced in September 2025 before receiving shareholder approval in December.

As part of the acquisition, EA has become a privately owned company and its shares have been delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange.

Former shareholders will receive $210 (£156) in cash for each EA share they owned at the time of the transaction’s completion.

The move marks the beginning of a new chapter for one of the world’s largest video game publishers, whose portfolio includes EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Madden NFL, Need for Speed and Dragon Age.

EA chief executive Andrew Wilson said the company enters its next phase from a position of strength and believes the new ownership group shares its long-term ambitions.

He said the consortium would help the publisher invest more aggressively in creativity, technological innovation and the next generation of gaming experiences for its global player base.

PIF, which had already been a minority investor in EA for more than five years before the takeover, described the acquisition as a long-term strategic investment.

Deputy governor and head of international investments Turqi Alnowaiser said the sovereign wealth fund believes entertainment, gaming and sport will remain among the fastest-growing sectors globally and expects the partnership to support EA’s future growth.

Technology investment firm Silver Lake also highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) as one of the areas expected to accelerate under the new ownership.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Egon Durban said AI could play a significant role in enhancing both game development and player experiences while helping EA continue producing industry-leading franchises.

Affinity Partners CEO Jared Kushner added that EA had built some of entertainment’s most recognisable brands and communities, expressing confidence that the publisher could continue expanding its global audience.

The acquisition comes after another strong financial year for EA.

The California-based publisher generated approximately $7.5 billion (£5.6 billion) in GAAP net revenue during fiscal year 2026, underlining its position as one of the industry’s dominant companies despite increasing competition across console, PC and mobile gaming.

With the transaction now complete, EA will begin operating under private ownership backed by investors that have pledged long-term capital and strategic support as the company looks to expand its biggest franchises and invest further in emerging technologies.

The deal also strengthens PIF’s growing influence in the global gaming industry, with the Saudi investment fund continuing to expand its presence across eSports, game publishing and interactive entertainment.