Saudi PIF Secures EU Approval to Complete $55 Billion Acquisition of Electronic Arts

As reported by Reuters, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and its investor group have secured European Union regulatory approval to complete their acquisition of Electronic Arts. In a filing dated July 30, 2026, EA said it had obtained the necessary approvals and expects the transaction to close on August 4, 2026. The buyout is valued at approximately 55 billion dollars and will return EA to private ownership. EA’s filing states that the PIF will hold a 93.4 percent majority stake once the transaction closes, with the remaining 6.6 percent allocated between Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Affinity Partners was founded by Jared Kushner. The takeover follows a shareholder vote in December 2025 that approved the acquisition. Reuters has described the deal as set to become the largest leveraged buyout on record. In journalistic terms, EA told regulators it had received EU clearance at the end of July and that all closing conditions were on track for an early August completion. Company statements and filings submitted to regulators confirm the schedule and ownership split detailed above. EA will transition from a publicly traded company back to private ownership under the PIF-led consortium. Some EA studios and company representatives have publicly indicated that existing content plans will continue, stating the acquisition is not intended to alter the creative direction of ongoing projects. Those statements appear in company communications tied to the deal process. What this means for platforms and publishers EA publishes and distributes games across major platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, PC storefronts, and Nintendo Switch, and distributes titles via digital marketplaces such as the Nintendo eShop. The structural change in ownership means strategic decisions will be made by private owners rather than public shareholders; however, EA has not announced any verified changes to platform strategies, release schedules, or publishing commitments tied to the transaction. Next steps and industry context With EU approval secured, the closing on August 4 will mark the operational handover to the PIF-led group. The gaming industry will monitor any shifts in corporate strategy, M&A activity, and platform support from one of the largest global publishers. For now, the factual timeline and ownership details come directly from EA filings and Reuters reporting, and represent confirmed milestones in the acquisition process.