EA's Acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners Officially Closes

Published 22 hours ago by
EA's Acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners Officially Closes

It's official - Electronic Arts is no longer a public company. EA announced on August 4, 2026 that its acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners (together, the "Consortium") has successfully closed, wrapping up one of the biggest deals the games industry has ever seen. The agreement was originally announced back on September 29, 2025, and EA stockholders signed off on it at a special meeting held on December 22, 2025.

For the folks who owned EA stock, here's the bottom line: with the transaction complete, EA stockholders will receive $210 in cash for each share of EA common stock they owned as of the closing. EA's common stock has now stopped trading and is being delisted from NASDAQ.


Who exactly is buying EA?

The Consortium is made up of three investors, and each one had something to say about the deal. EA Chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson framed the moment as the "start of a new era" for the company.

Quote From Turqi Alnowaiser (PIF)

Having been a minority investor in the company for more than five years, we have a deep understanding of EA’s unique platform, massive global sports and gaming franchises, and iconic IP, Entertainment and sports are key areas of strategic focus for PIF, and are among the fastest growing and evolving sectors around the world. Together, the Consortium is uniquely positioned to be a long-term partner to EA’s management team in driving sustained growth and innovation for EA and the industry.

Quote From Egon Durban (Silver Lake)

EA’s franchises are some of the most beloved in entertainment, combining exceptional creative talent with a relentless focus on players, as long-term investors in technology, we admire how EA’s innovation fuels imagination and human connection. We’re proud to join with PIF and Affinity Partners to invest heavily in EA’s growth, including what AI can do to enhance game development and player experience, and excited to partner with Andrew and the EA team as they raise the bar for fans everywhere.

Quote From Jared Kushner (Affinity Partners)

EA has created stories, characters, and communities that have become part of everyday life for hundreds of millions of people, we're excited to support the company as it continues to reach new audiences, inspire the next generation of creators, and expand the ways people around the world connect through play.


What does this mean for EA's games?

If you're wondering what happens to your favorite EA franchises, the messaging from the new owners is all about investment and growth - with a notable emphasis on AI which is the current big, divisive thing in tech.

It's worth noting that beyond the promise of bold investment and AI-assisted development, the press release doesn't get into specifics about individual games, studios, or roadmaps - so exactly how this plays out for the likes of Apex Legends and the EA Sports franchises remains to be seen.


Just how big is EA right now?

Here's where EA stands as a business:

  • In fiscal year 2026, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion.

  • EA remains headquartered in Redwood City, California.

  • Its portfolio includes EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, EA SPORTS College Football, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, Plants vs. Zombies, and EA SPORTS F1.

On the investor side, EA was advised by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (financial advisor) and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (legal advisor), while J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as the Consortium's financial advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to the Consortium.

They're huge.


You can read EA's full announcement at out the original press release on EA News.

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Robert "Fluxflashor" Veitch is the founder of Out of Games. With over a decade of experience in gaming content, and being done with the exhaustion of corporate nonsense, he wanted to do something different with a focus on the community in this online world that tries so hard to just make everyone just another number. Robert is currently playing whatever interesting game shows up next. He can be contacted via direct messages.

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Comments

  • Somehow I feel like this will do absolutely nothing to improve on all of the problems EA has had for so long now.

    Staff
    • Oh it’s only going to get worse. As soon as private equity moves in to anything everything goes to shit. I’m certain their goal is to boost financials and then flip EA to the next set of suckers.