• Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund acquires Electronic Arts for $55 billion.
• This is the largest leveraged buyout in history, according to reports.
• EA will become a private company, delisted from the stock exchange.
• CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in charge post-acquisition.
• The deal supports Saudi Arabia's strategy to diversify its economy.

Electronic Arts (EA), a leading video game developer renowned for titles such as FIFA, The Sims, and Battlefield, has agreed to a $55 billion buyout by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). This acquisition, described as the largest leveraged buyout in history, involves backing from firms including Silver Lake and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners. EA's current Chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson remarked that the deal signifies a "powerful recognition" of the company's achievements, stating the goal is to unlock new global opportunities, according to BBC and TRT.

As part of the deal, EA will see its shares valued at $210, representing a 25% premium over the stock's price prior to acquisition rumors. This acquisition means EA will transition to private ownership, ceasing to trade publicly, which has drawn mixed reactions from the gaming community about its future implications, as reported by Al Jazeera and TRT.

The transaction, which is slated to close by early 2026, involves financing of around $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt, largely underwritten by JPMorgan Chase. With EA's transition, it will no longer be obliged to produce public quarterly reports, marking the end of its 36-year tenure as a publicly traded company, as noted by BBC and Al Jazeera.

The PIF, which has previously invested heavily in the gaming sector, continues its strategy to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy away from oil dependency. Stephen O’Brien of Silver Lake praised EA's legacy of creating "iconic, lasting experiences," reinforcing the consortium's commitment to innovation in the gaming world, according to Al Jazeera and TRT.