In a rather shocking development this morning, Electronic Arts has announced that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners to the tune of $55 billion. In EA’s own words, this sale “positions EA to accelerate innovation and growth to build the future of entertainment.” In reality, it’s yet another reminder that the video games industry is being consolidated down into fewer and fewer major publishers who will eventually be controlled by a single entity.
If you thought there was some silver lining here, the terms of the agreement make it plain as day that the EA we once knew is gone. This new consortium of groups, which includes not only backing from the Saudi Prince, but President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, will acquire 100% of EA Games. That’s a startling increase from the PIF’s previous 9.9% stake in the company. I suppose if you had EA stock, now is the time to sell as stock prices have risen to around $210 per share.
Andrew Wilson, Chairman and CEO of EA, said in a press release, “Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work. Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities.” That seems hard to believe considering how the PIF has already dictated what must be in games of companies it owns (here’s looking at you, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves).
The rest of the public information provided is investor nonsense that has nothing to do with the creative process. EA was already a company prone to aggressive monetization and annual franchises with barely any innovation, but expect it to get worse in the short term. If there’s any consolation, this deal won’t be completed until Q1 2027, but I imagine EA will quickly yield to its new corporate owners.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
