Big news in gaming: Electronic Arts (EA), the publisher behind FIFA/EA Sports FC, Battlefield, Madden NFL, Apex Legends, The Sims, and more, is being taken private in a huge deal backed by investors from Saudi Arabia, private equity giant Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
EA’s shareholders will get $210 per share in cash, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will keep its nearly 10% stake, rolling it into the new structure. The deal is expected to close in EA’s fiscal Q1 2027.
Leadership Stays the Same
Don’t expect an immediate shake-up: Andrew Wilson will remain CEO. Under his leadership, EA has shifted heavily toward subscriptions and live services, while still pumping out big titles like Battlefield, Madden, and Apex Legends.
Why This Matters
Going private means EA won’t have Wall Street breathing down its neck every three months. That could give the company more freedom to take risks, invest in new ideas, or expand globally without short-term stock pressure.
For players, your favorite games aren’t going anywhere in the short term. Live services like Apex Legends or EA Sports FC will continue as planned. The big question is how new ownership might shape monetization and what kinds of games get greenlit in the future.
The Bottom Line
EA is now backed by massive global investors with deep pockets. Whether that leads to bolder projects or just more microtransactions remains to be seen. Either way, this is one of the biggest shifts in gaming business we’ve seen in years – and fans of EA’s franchises will want to keep an eye on what comes next.
Share this:
