Electronic Arts’ to be Bought for US$55 Billion by Consortium

Electronic Arts (EA), one of the leading video game developers globally, has agreed to be acquired by a consortium consisting of Silver Lake, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, and Affinity Partners, the company founded by Jared Kushner, former senior advisor to the US President. The transaction is valued at US$55 billion. Shareholders will receive US$210 per share in cash, a 25% premium over the closing price on Sept. 25, 2025.

The involvement of the Public Investment Fund and Silver Lake reflects strategic interest in the digital entertainment sector, while Affinity Partners represents private US investment with connections to political and international markets. The combination indicates a growing trend of cross-border capital moving into high-value gaming assets, reports agencies.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027. It will be financed through a combination of cash contributions from the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, along with the renewal of the existing Public Investment Fund stake in EA.

The agreement includes protective clauses for both parties. EA will pay US$1 billion if a board change occurs, a higher offer is accepted, or another transaction is pursued within one year following shareholder rejection. Similarly, the consortium will pay the same amount if the terms of the agreement are breached.

The US$55 billion acquisition represents one of the largest deals in the video game industry in recent years, both in financial value and in the diversity of international participants. Analysts note that the integration of strategic capital from the Middle East and private US investment could influence EA’s development strategy, particularly in franchise management and title launches.

Furthermore, the transaction underscores a growing movement of sovereign and private funds toward digital entertainment, a sector showing resilience compared with traditional markets. The merger may create opportunities for operational optimization, technological scalability, and market expansion, particularly in regions with high video game penetration and monetization potential.