EA has officially completed its $55 billion acquisition to an investor group comprised of Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
Announced on August 4, 2026, this massive business move has been nearly one year in the making, first announced in September 2025.
“This moment recognizes the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies,” Andrew Wilson, Chairman & CEO of Electronic Arts, said in a press release.
“We’re entering this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition. Together, we’ll invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences for the hundreds of millions of players and fans who inspire us every day.”
“Having been a minority investor in the company for more than five years, we have a deep understanding of EA’s unique platform, massive global sports and gaming franchises, and iconic IP,” Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF, added.
“Entertainment and sports are key areas of strategic focus for PIF, and are among the fastest growing and evolving sectors around the world. Together, the Consortium is uniquely positioned to be a long-term partner to EA’s management team in driving sustained growth and innovation for EA and the industry.”
As reported by The Financial Times after the acquisition was first announced in September 2025, the deal hinges on the hope that artificial intelligence will “significantly” cut EA’s operating costs, helping the consortium of private investors to better manage the debt. Sources involved in the acquistions told the outlet that investors are betting these AI-spurred cuts will result in higher profits in the years to follow.
The use of AI in the gaming space has been a hot-button topic for some time now, with developers sharing conflicting opinions on the matter. Some, like Stranger Than Heaven director Masayoshi Yokoyama, says it might become inevitable in the creation of large-scale games in the vein of GTA 6 if demand for massive, open-world titles like it continues. Others, like Capcom, have said they will not use AI to create assets for its games, but will “proactively use it as a contributing technology to improve the efficiency and productivity of the game development process.”
At the time of its announcement, EA’s acquisition was the largest deal of its kind in history. Its official completion follows a hugely successful fiscal 2026 year, which, thanks to Battlefield 6’s “highly successful launch,” helped manage the company’s resilience in an “unpredictable external environment,” earning its CEO an $8 million pay increase despite layoffs across the Battlefield teams.
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
