Electronic Arts — the company behind FIFA, Madden, The Sims, and Battlefield — is officially being bought out in a massive $55 billion deal.
The investors? A mix of names you might not expect:
- Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)
- Private equity firm Silver Lake
- Affinity Partners, run by Jared Kushner (yes, Donald Trump’s son-in-law)
Once the deal closes, EA will no longer be a publicly traded company on the stock market. Instead, it will go private under these new owners.
What This Means for Gamers
For now, EA says things won’t change drastically:
- The company stays headquartered in Redwood City, California.
- CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in charge.
- Development on big franchises like Battlefield and Madden continues.
But behind the scenes, it’s a big shift. With Saudi Arabia already holding stakes in companies like Nintendo, Take-Two, and Capcom, this deal gives them an even larger influence in gaming.
Why This Matters
- One of the biggest buyouts ever: $55 billion puts this among the largest acquisitions in gaming history.
- Control over iconic franchises: Madden, FIFA (now EA Sports FC), Battlefield, and The Sims are now essentially in the hands of international investors.
- Comes at a rocky time for EA: The company recently laid off staff, canceled upcoming Titanfall and Black Panther projects, and admitted Dragon Age: The Veilguard “underperformed.”
And it all happens just weeks before the launch of Battlefield 6 on October 10.
The Bottom Line
EA fans shouldn’t expect their favorite games to suddenly vanish or change overnight. But the buyout raises questions about what happens when some of gaming’s most famous franchises are controlled by big outside investors rather than a publicly traded company.
For casual players, it might not matter right away as you’ll still get your FIFA matches and Sims expansions. But long term? This deal could reshape EA’s priorities, budgets, and maybe even the games themselves.
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