EA Confirms $55 Billion Sale to Saudi Arabia and Private Equity Set to Finalize Next Week

Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed that it has secured all necessary regulatory approvals for its anticipated sale to Saudi Arabia and several private equity firms, with the deal expected to finalize next week on August 4.

In a recent filing, EA stated:

“As of July 30, 2026, all regulatory approvals required to complete the Merger have been obtained. Electronic Arts currently expects the Merger to close on or about the close of trading on August 4, 2026. Completion of the Merger remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining customary closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.”

While there’s a slim chance that unforeseen issues could delay the merger, it currently appears highly likely that EA will transition to private ownership for $55 billion next week.

The acquisition will be led by a consortium that includes the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake Partners, and Affinity Partners, a private equity firm associated with Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former President Donald Trump. The Saudi PIF has been actively investing in various gaming companies, including EA, Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, and Take-Two Interactive, and has fully acquired both Scopely, the maker of Monopoly Go!, and Niantic, the developer behind Pokémon Go.

This deal marks the second-largest acquisition in the gaming industry, trailing only Microsoft’s $75.4 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard in 2023. Following the sale, EA will become a private entity, meaning its financial details and other relevant information will no longer be publicly accessible.

Andrew Wilson is expected to continue as CEO after the sale is finalized, and the company will maintain its headquarters in California. However, the implications of this sale for EA’s global workforce, which has faced significant layoffs in recent years affecting franchises from Apex Legends to BioWare, remain uncertain. Wilson recently received an $8 million bonus for the company’s performance over the past fiscal year.