Electronic Arts’ $55 Billion Buyout Is Scheduled to Close August 4
EA said it received all required regulatory approvals, though customary closing conditions still remain before the transaction can be completed.
Electronic Arts is scheduled to leave the public market on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, after the company said it had secured all required regulatory approvals for its $55 billion sale.
EA disclosed the update in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, July 30. The California-based company said it expects the transaction to close around the end of trading on August 4, although the final step still depends on the customary conditions outlined in the merger agreement being satisfied or waived.
EA Will Become a Private Company
Once the deal closes, Electronic Arts will operate under a consortium made up of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The ownership change will end EA’s run as a publicly traded company.
According to GamesRadar, the Public Investment Fund will hold 93.4% of EA’s shares, while Affinity Partners will receive 1.1% and Silver Lake will hold the remaining 5.5%.
The transaction is an all-cash deal. EA shareholders are set to receive $210 per share, representing a 25% premium over the company’s share price when the agreement was signed, according to DualShockers. The outlet also described the transaction as the largest leveraged buyout in corporate history, surpassing the $45 billion purchase of TXU in 2007.
The transaction is expected to leave EA with around $20 billion in debt. That financial obligation will become part of the company’s position as it moves into private ownership.
The transaction was first announced in September 2025. EA refers to the sale as a merger in its filing, and the agreement values the company at $55 billion. The deal was initially expected to close in June, but the completion date moved to August as the regulatory process continued, according to DualShockers. The August 4 date remains the planned closing date rather than a completed transaction.
The European Commission cleared the transaction under the EU Merger Regulation during the previous week. It concluded that the deal would not create competition concerns because of its limited effect on the markets where the companies operate, according to GamesRadar.
What Will Change for EA’s Games?
Andrew Wilson is expected to remain EA’s chief executive, while the publisher will keep its headquarters in Redwood City, California. EA has also said its studios will retain creative control, according to DualShockers. Those commitments provide some continuity, although the company’s new ownership structure will give PIF operational control over one of the industry’s biggest publishers.
The Sims has drawn particular attention because of the franchise’s focus on player expression and LGBTQ+ representation. The Sims team said its values have not changed in a statement discussed in Game Rant’s report on the buyout. Whether that position remains unchanged under the new ownership will become clearer after the transaction takes effect.
Why the Deal Has Drawn Criticism
The proposed buyout has faced criticism from developers, U.S. senators, and players. Concerns have included possible layoffs and studio closures, questions about foreign influence and national security, and the impact of PIF ownership on EA’s approach to inclusive games.
Human Rights Watch has accused the Saudi sovereign wealth fund of using sports and entertainment investments to “whitewash the country’s abysmal human rights record.” That criticism has added to concerns about how the ownership change could affect EA’s creative decisions and public commitments, as reported by GamesRadar.
The deal has also affected parts of EA’s creator community. PC Gamer reported that several prominent The Sims 4 creators left EA’s creator network in 2025 after the Saudi-backed buyout was announced.
The incoming ownership change follows layoffs affecting Battlefield and other parts of EA, including roles outside game development, according to DualShockers. Employees also raised concerns about executive compensation in an open letter after EA’s chief executive received a pay increase this year.
Battlefield, EA Sports FC, The Sims, Apex Legends, and the rest of EA’s catalog will move under the privately held company after August 4. No immediate changes to those games have been announced, but the new debt load and the consortium’s control will place EA’s future business decisions under closer scrutiny.
The remaining closing conditions mean the deal is not final yet, but the regulatory phase has been completed. The next major milestone will come when the consortium formally takes control of EA.
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