Electronic Arts is going private: the company is being bought for $55 billion by a group of investors led by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in office; the deal is expected to close after regulatory approvals.
Electronic Arts is going private: the company is being bought for $55 billion by a group of investors led by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in office; the deal is expected to close after regulatory approvals.
According to Engadget, EA confirmed the signing of the agreement and the estimated completion date — the first quarter of 2027.
After the deal closes, EA’s shares will no longer be traded on the stock exchange and the company will operate under the control of new owners. Wilson will continue to run the business, and the headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California. Investors say they will invest in growth and international expansion.
Private status gives more freedom to make long-term decisions without focusing on quarterly reports. At the same time, the owners count on stable income from key series — EA Sports FC, Apex Legends, The Sims, Battlefield — and service games, subscriptions, and mobile.
The gaming industry is going through a process of portfolio reshuffling and cost cutting. Last year, EA laid off more than 650 people, canceled a game based on the Black Panther universe in 2025 and closed its development studio; there was also media talk of a pause for Need for Speed. Against this backdrop, going private is a way to quickly reformat release plans and budgets.
In the near future, there will be no sudden changes: support for live projects continues, licensing partnerships are maintained. Further, point changes are possible: increased focus on sports, F2P and mobile, more cautious bets on large AAA releases, more cross-platform services and integrations with subscriptions.
The deal is subject to regulatory approvals in several countries before it closes. If all goes according to plan, the first noticeable management changes could be expected in fiscal year 2027. For fans, this means the same as before: an annual EA Sports FC, regular seasons in Apex Legends, and gradual updates to flagship series — with a greater emphasis on payback and long-term support.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson stated at a meeting with investors that «artificial intelligence defines the future.» His statement came after the recent layoffs of 300-400 employees, including at the Respawn Entertainment studio.
