You may or may not have heard the big rumors of the EA buyout this week, and it’s now official. Electronic Arts, one of the world’s most influential video game publishers, has been acquired by a group of investors led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Silver Lake Management and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.
The publisher behind Battlefield, EA Sports FC, and The Sims, has announced today that it has agreed to a $55 billion all-cash deal. The acquisition cements one of the largest buyouts in video game history, but it also raises a lot of questions.
But with Battlefield 6 set to release on October 10, the question that gamers are asking is: How will this impact EA’s future? There are a lot of things to it, but how much of it is a confirmed fact, and how much is rumor? Let’s break it down.
The $50 Billion Buyout for Electronic Arts (EA) Explained
We first saw these rumors last week as we saw outlets like The Wall Street Journal report that EA is negotiating a deal worth around $50 billion to take the company private. This immediately raised eyebrows, as it would surpass the $32 billion buyout of TXU in 2007, making it the largest leveraged buyout in history.
EA has announced it plans to be acquired for 55 billion dollars by a consortium of investors led by Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/Bcdg9JOU5Y
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) September 29, 2025
As of September 29, EA officially announced (via BusinessWire) it had reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners in an all-cash transaction worth approximately $55 billion. EA shareholders will receive $210 per share, a 25% premium compared to the company’s unaffected stock price before the talks became public.
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Quote from EA CEO Andrew Wilson: pic.twitter.com/blQMFN4728
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) September 29, 2025
And on top of that, EA’s market value jumped nearly 15% after the buyout news broke, climbing from $43 billion to nearly $48 billion. This deal also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to expand the kingdom’s presence in entertainment, gaming, and esports.
One thing that you have to understand is that this isn’t a partial stake. The consortium is set to acquire 100% of EA. Once the deal closes, EA will be delisted from public markets and continue operating privately under CEO Andrew Wilson. But is that a good or bad thing?
What This Means for Battlefield 6, EA Fans, and the Industry
Despite the takeover, EA insists little will change in the short term. The company will retain its leadership team and remain headquartered in California. Upcoming releases, including Battlefield 6 and The Sims 5 (Project Rene), are still on track. Investors claim the move will allow EA to innovate faster without the quarterly pressures of Wall Street.
Road to #Battlefield6 🪖
Preload starts October 3rd at 5:00 PM CEST / 8:00 AM PT.
Global launch on October 10th at 5:00 PM CEST / 8:00 AM PT.
There will be no early access.🇺🇸 8:00 AM PDT / 11:00 AM EDT
🇲🇽 9:00 AM CST
🇨🇦 11:00 AM EDT
🇦🇷 12:00 PM ART
🇧🇷 12:00 PM BRT
🇬🇧 4:00 PM… pic.twitter.com/CUf7IQjDsP— Battlefield Bulletin (@BFBulletin) September 28, 2025
This also comes at an important time as EA is betting heavily on Battlefield 6 after a recent history of slower growth, layoffs, and mixed results. But it may not all be positive. Bloomberg’s report points out that leveraged buyouts often burden companies with heavy debt, sometimes leading to job cuts, project cancellations, and long-term instability.
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund’s role in the deal is one of the most controversial aspects of the potential acquisition. The PIF has been aggressively investing in global entertainment as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify beyond oil.
But the bottom line is that it shouldn’t affect the upcoming Battlefield 6 release at all. We might see a shift in strategy from EA in the future, but for now, nothing is certain.
What do you think of this news? Where do you see EA going in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
