London, UK – September 30, 2025 Electronic Arts (EA), the maker of marquee games like The Sims, Battlefield, and Madden NFL, is eyeing a move from public to private ownership in a blockbuster deal valued at $55 billion. If approved, the transaction could grant EA more latitude in operations and influence broader trends in the video game industry.
Why EA Is a Target for Acquisition
EA’s deep catalog of popular franchises, its scale in the gaming world, and its exposure to global markets make it an attractive asset for major investors. The proposed deal would bring together Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — which already holds nearly 9.9% in EA — along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners (Jared Kushner’s investment firm).
Potential Advantages of Going Private
- Operational flexibility: Free from public market pressures, EA could reallocate resources, explore bold new projects, and experiment without quarterly earnings scrutiny.
- Creative breathing room: Some analysts suggest EA might use the transition to dial back aggressive monetization models (e.g. microtransactions) that fans often criticize.
- Strategic risk-taking: Without investor short-term demands, EA might more readily back ambitious or niche game development initiatives.
Risks & Challenges
- Debt burden: The deal involves approximately $20 billion in debt financing. That could put pressure on costs, lead to layoffs or project cuts, and affect internal allocation decisions.
- Timeliness concerns: Critics question why EA would accept a takeover just ahead of its Battlefield 6 release, a high-stakes launch likely to boost earnings and share price.
- Regulatory scrutiny: Given the involvement of PIF and political ties (Jared Kushner), the deal may face resistance from regulatory bodies in multiple jurisdictions.
- Impact on studios: While EA hasn’t signaled cuts, industry observers warn that changes could filter down to funding decisions for smaller studios and cancelation of riskier projects.
What’s Next
The acquisition hinges on regulatory and shareholder approval. If cleared, EA’s status as a publicly traded company would end by early 2027. Meanwhile, industry watchers will closely monitor how the deal reshapes EA’s strategies, its game portfolio, and competition dynamics in global gaming markets.
