EA to be acquired by Saudi-backed consortium for $55 billion

Mars Finance reports that on August 4, according to a document released by the European Commission, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with an investor consortium, has received European Union approval under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation to acquire global video game development giant Electronic Arts (EA) for $55 billion. In another regulatory filing submitted last Thursday, EA confirmed that it had obtained all necessary regulatory approvals as of July 30 and expects the transaction to close on August 4. In September 2025, EA announced it had reached a final agreement to be acquired in a fully cash transaction by an investor consortium comprising PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, with an enterprise valuation of approximately $55 billion. Turqi Alnowaiser, Vice President and Head of International Investments at PIF, stated that PIF holds a unique position in the global gaming and esports industry and is committed to building and supporting an ecosystem connecting players, developers, and IP creators. EA stated that this transaction will be “the largest all-cash privatization acquisition in history.” The buyers include Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, U.S.-based Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Affinity Partners is an investment firm founded in 2021 by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Trump, which has received substantial funding from Saudi sources, while Silver Lake is a technology-focused investment firm. Thus, this acquisition of EA is almost entirely led by Saudi capital.