EA is about to be bought for $50 billion: who is behind it?
According to Xataka, Electronic Arts is close to being acquired in a deal worth $50 billion USD (about €42.7 billion) by a consortium led by Silver Lake Partners and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
EA owns franchises like EA Sports FC, The Sims, Battlefield, Need for Speed, and Madden. If completed, this would be one of the biggest acquisitions in video game history.
Following the leak, EA’s stock jumped nearly 15%, reflecting market belief in the deal’s likelihood.
Who might be behind the acquisition?
The potential buyer is a consortium including the Saudi sovereign fund and venture firm Silver Lake Partners.
Silver Lake has prior experience investing in tech and is said to have interest in acquiring parts of TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Saudi Arabia has been investing in gaming to diversify its economy, backing stakes in firms like Nintendo and Capcom.
If announced officially, Saudi Arabia could become a major stakeholder in global gaming brands.
Implications of a potential acquisition
Control over major IPs
EA’s entire portfolio would be transferred: The Sims, Battlefield, Madden, NHL, and Need for Speed would come under new leadership.
Cultural and political influence
A nation with geopolitical power owning video game brands raises questions about creative freedom, censorship, and cultural control.
Unavoidable comparisons
The acquisition evokes the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal at $68.7 billion, which underwent intense regulatory scrutiny for monopoly risks.
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Why now?
Some factors that could be driving this move:
- The gaming sector has grown enormously in value, and EA is one of the most important companies in that ecosystem.
- Saudi Arabia wants to strengthen its global presence in technology and entertainment.
- Silver Lake already has experience with tech investments and may see this as an opportunity to expand its portfolio.
- With the end of the "FIFA era" and the transformation of EA’s sports brand, the company may be at a turning point.
