Electronic Arts has officially completed its $55 billion acquisition by an investor group consisting of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This transaction, first announced in September 2025, has been nearly a year in the making.
Andrew Wilson, Chairman & CEO of Electronic Arts, stated in a press release that the completion of the deal "recognizes the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world's leading interactive entertainment companies." He added that the company is entering "this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition" and that together they will "invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences."
Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF, noted the fund's existing minority investment in EA and its deep understanding of the company's platform, franchises, and intellectual property. Alnowaiser highlighted that entertainment and sports are key strategic focus areas for PIF, and that the consortium is positioned to be a long-term partner driving sustained growth and innovation for EA and the wider industry.
Sources familiar with the acquisition, as reported by The Financial Times, indicate that the deal's success hinges on the anticipated impact of artificial intelligence in significantly cutting EA's operating costs. Investors are reportedly betting that AI-driven efficiencies will lead to higher profits in the coming years. The role of AI in game development remains a subject of debate within the industry, with some developers viewing it as a potential necessity for large-scale game creation, while others, like Capcom, have stated their intention to use AI as a tool for improving development efficiency rather than for asset creation.
The completion of this deal follows a successful fiscal year for EA in 2026, which saw a strong performance partly attributed to the launch of Battlefield 6. This success reportedly contributed to EA's resilience in a challenging economic climate and resulted in an $8 million pay increase for its CEO, despite layoffs affecting some Battlefield teams.