(MENAFN) Electronic Arts (EA), a global gaming powerhouse, has reached a $55 billion agreement to be acquired by a Saudi-led investor group, the company announced Monday. The consortium includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, controlled by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to EA, the transaction will be backed by $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt, with PIF maintaining its current 9.9% stake in the company. EA’s renowned portfolio features major franchises such as FIFA, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, Plants vs. Zombies, and Need for Speed.

The company described the transaction as “the largest all-cash sponsor take-private in history,” projecting that it will accelerate strategic decisions and open new global growth avenues. EA’s board of directors has already approved the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of EA’s fiscal year 2027.

Following completion, EA will delist from public stock exchanges and operate as a private entity. The move comes amid a broader shakeup in the gaming industry, which saw a pandemic-fueled boom but now faces restructuring. EA’s stock has lagged behind the S&P 500 over the past five years and suffered a sharp 17% drop in early 2025 after poor sales of the latest football simulation, EA FC25.

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