Electronic Arts (EA), one of the world’s most famous video game publishers, has officially been bought out for $55 billion and will now become a private company.
Electronic Arts $55 billion acquisition: Here’s what we know
This is known as the EA acquisition, and it means the company will no longer trade its shares publicly on the stock market.
The deal was led by a group of powerful investors — Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.
Together, they will now own the company. Shareholders of EA will receive $210 per share in cash, which is about 25% more than the company’s last unaffected trading price.
This is the largest all-cash take-private deal ever, showing just how valuable EA has become in the global gaming and entertainment industry.
What does “going private” mean?
When a company is “public,” its shares can be bought and sold on the stock market.
Investors, big and small, can own part of it. When a company goes “private,” those shares are bought back, and the company no longer needs to answer to public shareholders.
For EA, this could mean more freedom to make long-term decisions without worrying about short-term stock market pressures.
But it also means less transparency to the general public about the company’s finances.
What this means for gamers and the industry
EA is the company behind some of the biggest video game franchises in the world, including:
- FIFA/EA Sports FC (football/soccer games)
- Madden NFL (American football)
- The Sims
- Battlefield
- Apex Legends
By being privately owned, EA might have more cash and flexibility to experiment with new ideas.
The consortium behind the deal also has deep ties to sports, media, and entertainment, meaning we could see closer links between video games, real-world sports, and even live events.
“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,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson said.
EA’s history: From sports games to global dominance
Founded in 1982, EA started as a small developer and grew into one of the most powerful gaming companies in the world.
Its sports titles, especially FIFA, became global sensations, while The Sims changed how people play simulation games.
But EA has also faced criticism. Gamers have often accused it of focusing too much on microtransactions (small payments within games) and of rushing releases.
Despite this, EA has consistently remained one of the top gaming companies worldwide.
This acquisition is not just about EA. It shows how big money is flowing into gaming. With the gaming industry now larger than both movies and music combined, global investors see it as a key part of the future of entertainment.
For fans, the EA acquisition raises questions: Will games become more expensive? Will creative risks be taken? Or will this mean even bigger and better titles for the next generation of players?
One thing is clear: EA’s move into private ownership marks a new chapter not just for the company, but for the gaming world as a whole.