Electronic Arts in Talks for $50 Billion Take-Private Buyout Led by Silver Lake, Saudi PIF, and Affinity Partners

The gaming industry may soon witness one of the largest acquisitions in its history, as Electronic Arts (EA) is reportedly close to finalizing a $50 billion deal to go private. If completed, the move would mark the biggest leveraged buyout (LBO) ever recorded, reshaping the future of the gaming giant behind hit franchises like Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, The Sims, and Battlefield.

First reported by The Wall Street Journal, news of the potential buyout sent EA shares soaring more than 14%. The surge reflects investor optimism in the publisher’s strong portfolio of recurring revenue titles and live-service games

The deal is reportedly being led by a consortium of heavyweight investors, including:

• Silver Lake – A top private equity firm with a strong track record in technology investments.
• Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – Already a significant EA stakeholder, with billions committed to gaming, sports, and global entertainment ventures.
• Affinity Partners – An investment firm founded by Jared Kushner.

If finalized, the leveraged buyout would be heavily financed through debt, a high-stakes bet on EA’s ability to maintain its strong earnings from blockbuster sports titles and in-game monetization.

The deal signals three major shifts in the global gaming industry:

• Consolidation: Following Microsoft’s $68.7 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, the EA deal would further cement video games as prime investment targets.
• Going Private: Without the pressure of quarterly earnings, EA could take bigger creative risks—though analysts warn private equity ownership may prioritize profit over innovation.
• Geopolitical Investment: The Saudi PIF’s participation reinforces its strategy of diversifying into global media and entertainment, deepening its footprint in gaming

An official announcement could come as soon as next week, but the transaction will likely face intense scrutiny from global regulators due to its record-breaking scale and involvement of foreign investors. If approved, it would represent a turning point for both EA and the broader gaming ecosystem.