Electronic Arts has obtained all remaining regulatory approvals needed for its acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The company now expects the transaction to close on August 4, 2026, according to a recent official filing.
The deal values EA at approximately $55 billion. Shareholders are set to receive $210 per share, a figure reported as a 25 percent premium over the stock price before the acquisition agreement became public. Once completed, PIF will hold more than 93 percent of the company, making it the clear majority owner. The remaining equity will be divided between private equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Jared Kushner. Affinity Partners is expected to hold the smallest stake of the three.
Talks and preparations for the acquisition have been underway since at least September 2025. The process faced the usual complexities of a large cross-border technology transaction, including reviews by regulators in the United States, Europe, and other jurisdictions. Analysts had largely anticipated approval, particularly after signals that European authorities were unlikely to block the deal. The final clearances remove the largest procedural obstacle.
EA and the acquiring group have stated that the change in ownership will not alter how the company’s studios operate or how creative decisions are made. Those assurances are aimed at addressing concerns that have circulated among players and some industry observers since the PIF-led bid became known. Critics have questioned whether a sovereign wealth fund with geopolitical priorities might eventually influence the direction of major franchises. Both sides of the transaction continue to describe the purchase as a financial investment rather than an operational takeover.
The timing of the expected close coincides with ongoing scrutiny of EA’s recent workforce reductions. The company has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs while preparing for the ownership change. CEO Andrew Wilson’s compensation has drawn particular attention. Reports indicate he earned $38 million in a recent fiscal year. Filings related to the acquisition also show that Wilson could receive an additional $125 million if he is terminated without cause after the deal closes. The contrast between executive payouts and staff cuts has fueled criticism even before the new ownership structure takes effect.
A leveraged buyout of this size is rare in the games industry. Previous major transactions have usually involved one publisher acquiring another or a studio, rather than a traditional games company being taken private by a sovereign wealth fund and private equity partners. The $55 billion price tag places the deal among the largest ever in the sector and reflects EA’s portfolio of long-running sports, shooter, and entertainment brands.
What happens after the close will determine whether the transaction remains primarily financial or begins to affect day-to-day operations. PIF has invested in other entertainment and sports properties, but its approach to a major Western games publisher remains untested at this scale. EA’s leadership has emphasized continuity. Studios working on Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, the various EA Sports titles, and other projects are expected to continue under their existing structures, at least in the near term.
Regulatory approval does not eliminate every remaining variable. EA’s filing notes that unexpected issues, additional requirements, or legal challenges could still affect the timeline. Barring such developments, August 4 stands as the target date for the deal to become effective. At that point EA would transition from a publicly traded company to one controlled by the PIF-led group.
For players, the immediate practical impact is limited. Games already in development or live service are unlikely to change direction overnight. Longer-term questions about investment priorities, franchise strategy, and creative independence will only be answerable once the new ownership has been in place for some time. The public statements so far stress that studio autonomy will be preserved.
The acquisition also occurs against a backdrop of consolidation and cost-cutting across much of the industry. Several major publishers have reduced staff and narrowed project slates in the past two years. EA’s move to private ownership removes the quarterly pressure of public markets, which some executives argue can give companies more flexibility to pursue longer development cycles. Whether that flexibility materializes, and how it is used, will be one of the central stories to watch after the deal closes.
As of the latest filing, all necessary regulatory clearances are in hand. The financial terms are set. The ownership split is defined. Unless last-minute complications arise, Electronic Arts is days away from becoming a privately held company under majority control of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The coming weeks will show how that change is communicated to employees, partners, and players, and whether the promises of operational continuity hold once the transaction is complete.
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