Electronic Arts to go private after record $55 billion deal

EA officially confirmed its sale to a consortium comprising investment firm Silver Lake, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, and Affinity Partners. The deal valued the publisher at $55 billion, and will see the company go public, becoming a private company.

CEO Andrew Wilson called the deal a recognition of the achievements of EA's studios and teams, who have spent years creating successful franchises and captivating the hearts of millions of players. Unlike Activision and Bobby Kotick's departure after the merger with Microsoft, Wilson will retain his position and continue to lead the corporation.

According to the Financial Times, the new owners intend to actively invest in the development of artificial intelligence for gaming to reduce operating costs and increase the company's profitability. For now, EA's position remains stable: rumors of the deal even had a positive impact on its stock price.

The final closing of the deal is scheduled for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, and is still subject to regulatory approval.