EA’s $55 B Takeover Puts the Publisher Under Saudi and Kushner-Linked Ownership

Electronic Arts has completed a $55 billion sale that moves the longtime public company into private hands. The consortium behind the deal includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the private-equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. According to the announcement, the PIF now holds roughly 93 percent of EA, while Silver Lake and Affinity Partners own the remaining stakes. The transaction ends decades of public trading for the publisher of franchises such as *Madden NFL*, *The Sims*, *Battlefield* and *EA Sports FC*.

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Human-rights groups, including Amnesty International, have raised objections to the PIF’s involvement, citing Saudi Arabia’s record and questioning how it aligns with EA titles such as *The Sims*, which has been noted for LGBTQ+ representation. The acquisition also coincides with an ongoing House Judiciary Committee investigation into Affinity Partners, an allegation that has not been addressed by Kushner’s firm. Commentators have speculated that the new ownership could affect EA’s credit rating and the future of studios like BioWare, though no concrete operational changes have been announced.

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With EA now privately held, regular earnings calls will cease, reducing public access to detailed financial performance. Analysts note that the shift may limit transparency for investors and the gaming community. Despite the ownership change, the company has not announced alterations to its game slate, studio structure, or day-to-day operations.

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• “Interesting to see what happens next. Do they just shelve all their non-sports IPs? Maybe release the occasional Star Wars game?” — Another — Another

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