Electronic Arts faces a seismic ownership shift as new filings reveal Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will control nearly all of the gaming giant in a record-breaking $55 billion deal.
Table of Contents
Saudi Arabia to Control 93% of EA
| Deal Component | Details |
|---|---|
| PIF Ownership | 93.4% stake |
| Silver Lake Stake | 5.5% |
| Affinity Partners | 1.1% (Jared Kushner) |
| Total Value | $55 billion |
| PIF Investment | ~$29 billion cash outlay |
What This Deal Means for Gaming
The deal represents the largest leveraged buyout in history, fundamentally transforming who controls one of gaming’s most influential publishers. PIF is also a major investor in both Silver Lake and Affinity, giving Saudi Arabia effective total control despite the consortium structure.
Why PIF Wants EA: Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy aims to diversify beyond oil revenue into entertainment and technology. EA brings iconic franchises like FIFA, Madden, Battlefield, and The Sims—plus annual revenues around $7.5 billion. The kingdom already holds stakes in Nintendo, Capcom, and Take-Two, but this acquisition dwarfs previous investments.
Financial Pressure: The deal requires PIF to contribute approximately $29 billion in new cash beyond its existing $5.2 billion stake. With $20 billion in borrowed debt against EA’s assets and reports of PIF financial strain from expensive projects like NEOM, this represents a massive gamble on gaming’s future.
Creative Control Questions: EA CEO Andrew Wilson promised the company’s values would remain unchanged, but with such a large stake, it seems increasingly unlikely that operations won’t shift under sovereign wealth fund priorities rather than public market pressures.
What Happens Next
EA shareholders are scheduled to vote on the acquisition proposal later in December 2025, with regulatory approval needed across multiple jurisdictions. U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren have already raised concerns about foreign influence.
The gaming world watches closely as this deal could reshape industry power dynamics—potentially sparking further consolidation or regulatory pushback. For gamers, the question remains whether sovereign ownership brings creative freedom or new constraints on beloved franchises.
Explore more gaming industry news at TechnoSports and read the full Wall Street Journal report.
FAQs
Will Saudi Arabia’s ownership change EA’s games?
While EA promises creative control will remain intact, 93.4% ownership gives PIF ultimate decision-making authority over strategy and content.
When will this deal close?
Expected in Q1 2026 after shareholder votes in December 2025 and multi-jurisdiction regulatory approvals.