EA goes private in $55 billion Saudi-backed buyout

EA is now a private company. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners completed their $55 billion buyout today, according to an SEC filing and European Commission clearance last week.

This is the largest gaming acquisition since Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in 2023. EA owns Battlefield, Apex Legends, FC 25, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. The deal means EA no longer answers to public shareholders — decisions about live-service pivots, patch cadence, and studio closures now rest with PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity.

For players, the short-term impact is probably zero. EA's roadmaps for Battlefield and Apex don't change overnight. The risk is long-term: private ownership means less financial disclosure, which makes it harder to track whether a studio is thriving or getting gutted. Private equity firms have a track record of cost-cutting to hit profitability targets, and PIF's gaming bets (they also own stakes in Nintendo, Capcom, and Activision) prioritize revenue over creative risk.

If you're waiting on Battlefield optimization or Apex server stability fixes, keep an eye on EA's patch notes over the next six months. Private ownership can mean faster decision-making, or it can mean skeleton crews and slower support cycles. We'll know which one when the first major patch cadence shifts.

Check your current settings for Apex or Battlefield — ownership changes don't fix stutters, but a fresh playbook might.