Electronic Arts Completes Acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), one of the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies, has officially completed its acquisition by an investor consortium comprising the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The closing of the transaction marks the beginning of a new chapter for the gaming giant as it transitions from a publicly traded company to privately owned, backed by three long-term investment organizations committed to supporting its future growth.
The acquisition was first announced on September 29, 2025, and subsequently received approval from EA shareholders during a special stockholder meeting held on December 22, 2025. With all regulatory and closing requirements now fulfilled, the transaction has officially been finalized.
As a result of the completed acquisition, Electronic Arts’ common stock has ceased trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange, and the company is no longer publicly listed. Shareholders of record at the time of closing will receive $210 in cash for every share of EA common stock they owned.
A New Era for Electronic Arts
The completion of the acquisition represents more than a change in ownership—it signals a strategic partnership designed to accelerate innovation, expand EA’s global reach, and strengthen its leadership position in the interactive entertainment industry.
Andrew Wilson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Arts, described the transaction as an important milestone in the company’s history. He emphasized that the success of EA has always been driven by the creativity, passion, and dedication of its employees, whose work has helped establish the company as one of the world’s most influential game developers and publishers.
According to Wilson, EA enters this next phase from a position of strength, supported by partners who share its long-term vision for the future of gaming. He noted that the new ownership structure will enable the company to invest more aggressively in technology, game development, and innovation while continuing to create engaging experiences for the hundreds of millions of players who interact with EA titles around the world.
The company plans to continue expanding its portfolio of games while exploring emerging technologies that can improve both game creation and player engagement.
Consortium Sees Significant Long-Term Potential
Representatives from each member of the investor consortium highlighted their confidence in Electronic Arts’ future and emphasized their commitment to supporting the company’s continued expansion.
Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, explained that PIF has been a minority shareholder in EA for more than five years. During that time, the organization developed a strong understanding of the company’s business model, global franchises, and intellectual property portfolio.
He noted that entertainment, gaming, and sports represent important strategic investment sectors for PIF because of their rapid global growth and increasing economic significance. Alnowaiser stated that the consortium is well positioned to serve as a long-term strategic partner for EA’s management team, helping accelerate innovation while creating sustainable value for both the company and the broader gaming industry.
Silver Lake Highlights Technology and AI Opportunities
Silver Lake, one of the world’s largest technology-focused investment firms, also expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
Egon Durban, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Silver Lake, described EA’s game franchises as some of the most recognized and respected entertainment properties globally. He praised the company’s creative talent, strong commitment to players, and history of delivering innovative gaming experiences.
Durban emphasized that Silver Lake has long admired EA’s ability to combine advanced technology with compelling storytelling to build communities that connect millions of players worldwide.
Looking ahead, he said the consortium intends to make significant investments in EA’s continued growth, including expanding the use of artificial intelligence across game development processes and player experiences. AI technologies are expected to enhance content creation, improve development efficiency, and deliver more personalized gameplay experiences while supporting future innovation across EA’s portfolio.
Affinity Partners Focuses on Global Expansion
Affinity Partners also sees substantial opportunities for Electronic Arts as the company continues evolving its global business.
Jared Kushner, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Partners, noted that EA has created some of the most recognizable characters, stories, and gaming communities in modern entertainment.
He Electronic explained that the firm’s investment reflects confidence in EA’s ability to reach even larger global audiences while inspiring the next generation of developers and creators. Affinity Partners believes the company is well positioned to expand how people connect through interactive entertainment while continuing to grow its influence across international markets.
Continued Investment in Innovation
The Electronic consortium’s acquisition is expected to provide Electronic Arts with greater flexibility to pursue long-term strategic investments that may have been more difficult under the pressures of quarterly public market expectations.
Areas expected to receive continued investment include:
- Next-generation game development technologies
- Artificial intelligence tools for developers
- Enhanced online services
- Cloud gaming capabilities
- Player engagement platforms
- Expansion of global live-service games
- New intellectual property development
- Continued support for established franchises
By combining financial resources with long-term investment strategies, the consortium aims to position EA for sustained growth over the coming years.
One of Gaming’s Largest Publishers
Electronic Arts has spent decades building one of the industry’s strongest portfolios of interactive entertainment brands.
For fiscal year 2026, the company reported approximately $7.5 billion in GAAP net revenue, reflecting its position among the world’s largest video game publishers.
Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA develops games across console, PC, and mobile platforms while operating extensive online gaming services that connect millions of players every day.
Electronic portfolio includes numerous globally recognized franchises spanning sports, action, racing, simulation, and role-playing genres.
Among its best-known titles are:
- EA SPORTS FC
- Madden NFL
- EA SPORTS College Football
- Battlefield
- Apex Legends
- The Sims
- Need for Speed
- Dragon Age
- Titanfall
- Plants vs. Zombies
- EA SPORTS F1
These franchises collectively serve hundreds of millions of players worldwide and continue to generate significant engagement through ongoing content updates, live services, and competitive gaming communities.
About the Consortium
Public Investment Fund (PIF)
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds and serves as a major driver of economic diversification under the Kingdom’s long-term development strategy.
The organization invests across numerous industries worldwide, with gaming, esports, sports, technology, and entertainment representing key strategic priorities. Through these investments, PIF seeks to generate strong financial returns while supporting innovation and industry growth.
Silver Lake
Silver Lake is a leading global technology investment firm with approximately $114 billion in assets under management and committed capital.
The firm’s portfolio companies collectively generate more than $307 billion in annual revenue while employing roughly 433,000 people worldwide. Silver Lake has invested extensively in technology companies across North America, Europe, and Asia, making it one of the most influential investors in the global technology sector.
Affinity Partners
Founded in 2021 by Jared Kushner, Affinity Partners is a Miami-based investment firm managing more than $6 billion in assets.
The company focuses on large-scale growth equity and technology investments across multiple industries and geographic markets. Its flexible investment approach enables it to partner with businesses pursuing long-term expansion and innovation.
Transaction Advisors
Several leading financial and legal firms advised the parties throughout the acquisition process.
Electronic Arts received financial advisory services from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, while Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as legal counsel.
The investor consortium was advised financially by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.
Legal counsel for the consortium included Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which served as lead counsel to PIF, with additional specialized legal support from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and White & Case LLP. Silver Lake was represented by Latham & Watkins LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, while Affinity Partners received legal advice from Sidley Austin LLP.
Forward-Looking Outlook
Electronic Arts noted that certain statements regarding future operations, expected benefits of the acquisition, strategic initiatives, and long-term growth plans constitute forward-looking statements under U.S. securities laws.
These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions but remain subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including integration challenges, operational disruptions, litigation, changing business conditions, talent retention, customer relationships, and broader economic conditions.
Additional information regarding these risks can be found in Electronic Arts’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports. The company stated that it undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.
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