EA’s Acquisition Will End Up With Saudi Arabia’s PIF Owning 93.4 Percent of the Company

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Electronic Arts (EA) announced in September it was being acquired and would become a private company, thanks to a deal with a group of investors. Now, a new report reveals that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will likely be the largest owner of EA after the acquisition is complete. This information comes from a recent Wall Street Journal report, based on a filing with an antitrust regulator in Brazil.

This document shows that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to own 93.4% of Electronic Arts (EA). Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, also investing in the company, will hold 5.5% and 1.1% respectively. As of now, none of the companies involved have publicly commented on this deal.

A deal is in place to take Electronic Arts (EA) private for approximately $55 billion. This involves buying out all current stockholders, who will receive $210 per share in cash. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) already owned about 9.9% of EA before the announcement. This price represents a 25% increase over EA’s share price on September 25, 2025, when shares were worth $168.32 each.

When announcing the agreement, EA CEO Andrew Wilson praised the company’s teams, saying their creativity and dedication have brought amazing experiences to hundreds of millions of fans, established globally recognized franchises, and driven substantial business growth. He called this a well-deserved acknowledgment of their exceptional efforts.

We’re committed to constantly innovating in entertainment, sports, and technology, and finding exciting new possibilities. By working with our partners, we aim to create truly memorable experiences that will inspire people for years to come. I’m incredibly optimistic and enthusiastic about what we’re building together.

EA’s recent acquisition is a significant shift, but its impact on individual development teams remains unclear. Some developers, including those at BioWare, are now worried about the future of their studios as the deal—expected to be completed by early 2027—moves forward. One developer pointed to the negative reaction following the release of Dragon Age, stating that current concerns are even greater. “If things felt bad then, you can imagine how we feel now,” they said.

Someone else explained that they’ll continue working as long as they’re needed. They admitted it’s not a great lifestyle, but they need the income, so they’re staying put.

Experts predict that Electronic Arts (EA) will need to cut costs following its recent acquisition due to a significant increase in debt. They believe EA will likely focus more on games with ongoing revenue, like live service titles and sports games, to guarantee stable income and profits.

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2025-12-03 14:41