EA Is Now Private After $55 Billion Buyout Closes
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund holds a super-majority stake in the consortium that now controls The Sims, Battlefield, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age.
Electronic Arts is now a private company after its $55 billion acquisition closed. The buying group includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, with PIF holding a super-majority stake.
That puts control of major EA franchises, including The Sims, Battlefield, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, in the hands of the consortium. The transaction was described as the biggest leveraged buyout in gaming history and was valued well above EA’s previous market value. Around $20 billion of the deal came through debt.
In EA’s announcement, CEO Andrew Wilson said, “This moment recognizes the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies.”
Wilson added, “We’re entering this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition. Together, we’ll invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences for the hundreds of millions of players and fans who inspire us every day.”
What EA’s private ownership could mean for its games
EA’s move away from public ownership will reduce the amount of financial information available through the company’s regular investor-relations process. Earnings calls, business reports, leadership updates, and other planning documents will no longer be presented through the same public-company structure.
The deal also carries political baggage because of PIF’s involvement. Human Rights Watch’s report on abuses linked to PIF and the U.S. State Department’s 2024 country report on Saudi Arabia both document human-rights concerns connected to the country and its institutions.
The closing does not announce changes to any specific game or studio, but it leaves open questions about EA’s creative priorities. Concerns include heavier attention on the company’s most profitable franchises, reduced investment in series such as Dragon Age, and possible changes to the content or direction of games such as The Sims.
Those concerns had already reached The Sims community during the sale process, when several high-profile creators left EA’s creator network. The development team later said that the game’s mission and values would remain intact, as covered in the creator network fallout.
EA had also made layoffs affecting Battlefield 6 developers before the buyout closed. With the transaction carrying billions in debt and the company no longer required to report like a public publisher, future decisions about staffing, development budgets, and franchise support will receive close attention. For now, EA’s new owners have offered broad promises about growth and creativity rather than details about individual games.
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