Digital Arts has introduced that it has now been totally acquired by Saudi Arabia’s PIF (Public Funding Fund), Silver Lake, and Affinity Companions (recognized collectively because the ‘Consortium’) following regulatory approvals in July.
Beforehand introduced to be within the works in September 2025, because of this EA is now not a publicly-traded firm, with PIF proudly owning 93.4% of the enterprise, Silver Lake 5.5%, and Affinity Companions 1.1%. Notably, the latter was established in 2021 as an funding agency by US president Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Silver Lake, in the meantime, owns a 15% stake in a brand new enterprise to oversee TikTok’s US operations.
EA stockholders will obtain $210 in money for every share of EA frequent inventory they owned as of the closing of the deal. Inventory has now ceased buying and selling and will likely be delisted from the NASDAQ.
A number of key figures concerned with the deal have supplied statements, so let’s begin with EA’s chairman and CEO, Andrew Wilson:
“This second acknowledges the extraordinary individuals whose creativity, ambition and fervour have made EA one of many world’s main interactive leisure firms. We’re coming into this subsequent chapter from a place of power with companions who share our imaginative and prescient and ambition. Collectively, we’ll make investments boldly, speed up innovation, and construct the subsequent era of video games and experiences for the tons of of hundreds of thousands of gamers and followers who encourage us day by day.”
Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of Worldwide Investments at PIF, had the next to say:
“Having been a minority investor within the firm for greater than 5 years, we now have a deep understanding of EA’s distinctive platform, large international sports activities and gaming franchises, and iconic IP. Leisure and sports activities are key areas of strategic focus for PIF, and are among the many quickest rising and evolving sectors around the globe. Collectively, the Consortium is uniquely positioned to be a long-term companion to EA’s administration staff in driving sustained development and innovation for EA and the trade.”
Egon Durban, CEO of Silver Lake, highlighted the potential of AI to assist EA’s sport improvement:
“EA’s franchises are among the most beloved in leisure, combining distinctive inventive expertise with a relentless deal with gamers. As long-term traders in expertise, we admire how EA’s innovation fuels creativeness and human connection. We’re proud to affix with PIF and Affinity Companions to take a position closely in EA’s development, together with what AI can do to boost sport improvement and participant expertise, and excited to companion with Andrew and the EA staff as they elevate the bar for followers in every single place.”
And eventually, Affinity Companions’ CEO Jared Kushner mentioned the next:
“EA has created tales, characters, and communities which have develop into a part of on a regular basis life for tons of of hundreds of thousands of individuals. We’re excited to assist the corporate because it continues to achieve new audiences, encourage the subsequent era of creators, and develop the methods individuals around the globe join by means of play.”
By way of its numerous funding corporations, Saudi Arabia has additionally acquired stakes in firms reminiscent of Nintendo, Capcom, Take-Two, SNK, and Scopely. Criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights file – tracked by organisations reminiscent of Amnesty – has additionally fuelled additional criticism of the area’s important funding in worldwide ventures.
