Electronic Arts Leaves Nasdaq After $55 Billion Buyout Closes
Electronic Arts is officially a private company after completing its $55 billion acquisition by a consortium formed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The transaction closed on August 4, 2026, ending almost 37 years of EA trading publicly after its 1989 market debut. EA stockholders will receive $210 in cash for every share owned at closing, while the company’s common stock has ceased trading and will be removed from Nasdaq.
PIF now controls approximately 93.4% of Electronic Arts, giving Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund overwhelming ownership of franchises including Battlefield, The Sims, EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, Madden NFL, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies. Silver Lake holds approximately 5.5%, while Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners controls the remaining 1.1%.
The acquisition was originally announced on September 29, 2025, and approved by EA stockholders on December 22. The financing package included approximately $36 billion in equity from the consortium and $20 billion in debt financing committed through JPMorgan Chase. PIF also transferred its existing 9.9% EA position into the newly private company.
"We're entering this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition."
— Quote by: Andrew Wilson.
Wilson remains Chairman and CEO, while EA says its mission and creative strategy remain unchanged. The company has not announced immediate changes to game availability, subscription services, development schedules, or its major franchises as part of the closing. Silver Lake specifically identified artificial intelligence as one area where the new ownership group intends to increase investment across game development and player experiences.
Leaving the public market could give Electronic Arts more freedom to fund projects without responding to quarterly shareholder expectations, but the $20 billion debt package creates a different form of financial pressure. Servicing that debt will require reliable cash flow from EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and The Sims, potentially encouraging management to prioritize proven franchises and recurring revenue over smaller experimental projects.
Workforce stability will become the first major test of the consortium’s long term intentions. Battlefield Studios reportedly faced layoffs despite Battlefield 6 delivering a record launch, demonstrating that strong commercial performance has not always protected EA development teams from restructuring. Private ownership may provide creative flexibility, but players and employees will judge the transaction by whether its promised investment produces better games rather than deeper monetization and further cost reductions.
Will private ownership help Electronic Arts invest in better games, or will the $20 billion debt load create greater pressure on studios and monetization?
