Recent reports were confirmed today: Electronic Arts (EA) is going private in a deal worth $55 billion. This is the largest leveraged buyout ever completed entirely in cash.
The deal is being financed by three major investment groups: Silver Lake, Affinity Partners, and Saudi Arabia’s PIF, who are collectively contributing $36 billion, in addition to PIF’s existing investment in EA. JPMorgan Chase Bank is providing another $20 billion in funding.
EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, stated that the deal recognizes the hard work of his company’s teams and their creation of popular games and franchises. He expressed excitement about the future and the potential for continued innovation with the support of their new partners.
Egon Durban, co-CEO of Silver Lake, highlighted EA’s strong sports gaming portfolio and emphasized their commitment to investing in the company’s growth and expanding its audience.
The deal still requires regulatory approval but is anticipated to be finalized sometime in the first quarter of 2027. Andrew Wilson is expected to remain as CEO after the deal is complete.
Affinity Partners and the PIF are already heavily involved with each other
Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, leads Affinity Partners, a firm that wasn’t previously mentioned in reports about the potential deal. Affinity Partners receives significant funding from Saudi Arabian investors, including the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The PIF is headed by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also owns SNK, the company behind the Fatal Fury video game series. Prince Salman is passionate about both video games and sports and is actively seeking investments that will increase Saudi Arabia’s presence in the entertainment industry.
It was widely reported that Prince Salman ordered the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
EA has cut hundreds of workers and canceled games this year
This agreement follows a year of substantial layoffs at EA. Earlier this year, BioWare was dramatically downsized, leaving fewer than 100 developers at the studio behind popular franchises like Dragon Age and Mass Effect – many were either laid off or reassigned. In April, EA cut hundreds of jobs, including positions at Respawn Entertainment, and cancelled a new Titanfall project. The cuts continued in May with the closure of Cliffhanger Games and the cancellation of the Black Panther game they were developing.
What does EA have on the horizon?
Four of Electronic Arts’ development teams have been collaborating for years on the next Battlefield game, currently scheduled to release on October 10th.
Beyond Battlefield, EA continues to prioritize its yearly sports titles like Madden NFL and EA Sports FC. They are also working on other games as well.
Respawn Entertainment is developing a third Star Wars Jedi game. In addition, they’re helping Bit Reactor create Star Wars Zero Company, a strategy game planned for release sometime in 2026.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news, insights, and features from Windows Central by following us on Google News!
Read More
- “Sadly you don’t know how to launch in India”: OpenAI debuts ChatGPT Go at under $5/month to promote affordability, but reactions are mixed
- Eve Teschmacher’s Secret: How She REALLY Saved Superman!
- Skate 4 – How to Christ Air | Redemption Air
- Dandadan Has Bad News for Fans Waiting for Season 3
- Mantis (2025) Movie Review
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Halloween game launches September 8, 2026
- Will there be an Alice in Borderland season 4? Director reveals hopes for future
- Minecraft’s next game drop has already been revealed as the Mounts of Mayhem — it’s bringing an awesome new weapon, watery mob, and more
- Alice in Borderland season 3 ending explained: Who is the Watchman?
2025-09-30 00:39