Electronic Arts, the publisher behind popular franchises such as EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, has officially transitioned to a private company. This significant development follows the completion of a $55 billion acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners.
The deal, initially announced last September, reached its conclusion after EA filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last week. The European Commission also confirmed it had no objections to the acquisition, paving the way for the transaction to close.
In a press release, Jared Kushner, whose Affinity Partners was involved in the acquisition, stated, "EA has created stories, characters, and communities that have become part of everyday life for hundreds of millions of people. We're excited to support the company as it continues to reach new audiences, inspire the next generation of creators, and expand the ways people around the world connect through play."
As a private entity, EA will no longer be subject to the demands of public shareholders. This change has previously raised concerns among unionized workers at EA, particularly regarding potential layoffs. A statement from the United Videogame Workers CWA had previously expressed worry that job losses or studio closures could be a move to increase investor profits, potentially jeopardizing studios deemed less profitable but crucial to EA's industry reputation.
Concerns have also been voiced by LGBTQIA+ players, given the popularity of EA titles like The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age within queer communities. While the Sims team shared a response addressing some of these concerns following the acquisition's announcement, a developer on The Sims expressed during a recent talk that they had not heard of any directives to reduce the game's diversity and would actively oppose such a mandate.