Electronic Arts (EA), one of the world’s biggest video game companies, is expected to officially become a private company on August 4 after the investor group buying the company received all the required regulatory approvals.
In a recent regulatory filing, EA confirmed that every approval needed for the takeover had been completed by July 30. The company said the deal is expected to close at the end of trading on August 4.
According to Reuters, the transaction also passed the European Union’s final review under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation, removing the last major hurdle before the acquisition is completed.
End of 37 Years as a Public Company
The takeover will bring an end to EA’s nearly 37-year journey as a publicly traded company.
EA first entered the stock market in 1989, when the company was valued at around $84 million. Over the years, it grew into one of the largest gaming companies in the world, with famous franchises played by millions of people.
Once the deal is completed, EA’s shares will no longer trade on the stock market, and the company will operate as a privately owned business.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Will Be the Main Owner
The takeover is being led by Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The investment group also includes private equity firm Silver Lake and investment company Affinity Partners.
Under the new ownership structure:
- PIF will own 93.4% of EA
- Silver Lake will own 5.5%
- Affinity Partners will own 1.1%
After the acquisition is completed, EA will become a fully owned subsidiary of Oak-Eagle AcquireCo, a company created specifically to complete this purchase.
One of the Biggest Buyouts Ever
EA agreed to the takeover in September 2025.
The $55 billion acquisition is considered the largest all-cash private buyout ever led by investment sponsors.
To finance the purchase, the investor group is using about $36 billion in equity funding and around $20 billion in debt financing.
EA Owns Many Popular Games
Electronic Arts has created and published some of the biggest video game franchises in the industry.
The company’s sports division became popular with games such as John Madden Football, which later evolved into the Madden NFL series.
Over the years, EA expanded by buying several well-known game development studios, including:
- Maxis, the creator of The Sims
- Criterion Games
- DICE
- BioWare
Today, Criterion Games and DICE work on the Battlefield series, while BioWare is famous for successful role-playing games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Employees Have Raised Concerns
Following the announcement of the takeover, some employees at BioWare reportedly became worried about the studio’s future.
According to reports, some staff fear the new owners could introduce more cost-cutting measures, including additional layoffs or even the possible closure of certain studios.
EA has already reduced jobs at some teams working on Battlefield 6, even though the game has become the best-performing Battlefield title in a fiscal year.
What Happens Next?
As a private company, EA will no longer have to meet the quarterly financial expectations of public shareholders. This could give the company more flexibility to focus on long-term projects instead of short-term financial results.
However, it is still unclear how the new ownership will affect EA’s game studios, employees, future game development, and overall business strategy.
For now, the gaming industry will be watching closely to see what changes come after one of the biggest acquisitions in video game history.
