Overview
- The $55 billion acquisition closed this week, with Electronic Arts becoming a private company after the buyer group completed the transaction on August 4, 2026.
- Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will hold roughly 93.4% of EA while Silver Lake and Affinity Partners retain small minority stakes.
- EA common stock has been delisted from Nasdaq and shareholders received $210 in cash per share as part of the buyout.
- The purchase was financed with about $18–20 billion of debt and the company has told lenders it plans roughly $700 million in annual cost cuts, including $170 million labeled as organizational efficiencies.
- Critics and some lawmakers warned that PIF ownership and reduced public reporting raise concerns about transparency, potential creative influence and job losses, while the new owners say they will invest in AI and EA’s top live-service franchises.