Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Record-Setting Buyout

In a landmark deal announced September 29, Electronic Arts (EA)—the publisher behind titles like Madden NFL, The Sims, and Battlefield—will be taken private in a transaction valuing the company at about $55 billion. A consortium made up of private equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Affinity Partners (led by Jared Kushner) will pay $210 per share in cash to EA’s existing shareholders.

With this deal, EA will exit public stock markets after 36 years and operate privately, though its headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California.

Deal Structure & Strategic Rationale

Under the terms, PIF will roll over its existing 9.9% stake in EA into the new private structure. The consortium is arranging about $36 billion in equity plus $20 billion in debt financing, making this one of the largest all-cash takeovers of a public company to date.

Silver Lake and the other investors argue this shift will give EA more flexibility to invest in game development, innovate without quarterly earnings pressure, and better position itself in fast-evolving entertainment and gaming markets. EA’s board has approved the agreement, which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, with closing expected in early 2027.

Implications for EA, Shareholders & the Gaming Landscape

For EA’s shareholders, the deal offers a 25% premium over the unaffected share price prior to deal speculation. But for the gaming world, this marks a dramatic shift: a major public publisher going private at a moment when investors are doubling down on blockbuster franchises and long-term content ecosystems.

Going private may relieve EA from the scrutiny of quarterly earnings but also places pressure on execution, especially with high expectations from its new backers. Despite past workforce cuts, the company will have less room for error as it targets growth in franchises and innovations in interactive entertainment.

One striking aspect is the strengthening involvement of PIF, which has been aggressively investing in gaming and esports globally. This confirms Saudi Arabia’s strategic push to deepen its presence in digital entertainment.

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