Saudi Fund Buys EA for $55B as Game Revenues Plummet
Selling out right before a massive financial iceberg hits might actually be the smartest move Electronic Arts has pulled in years.
The European Commission officially greenlit the acquisition of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia's PIF fund alongside investment partners. The massive buyout totals $55 billion, with the deal scheduled to close formally on August 4, 2026.
The buyout agreement originally surfaced back in September 2025, but the final sign-off comes during a remarkably rough financial patch for the publisher. First-quarter earnings missed analyst expectations by a comfortable margin, largely thanks to falling player engagement in Battlefield 6, which failed to keep gamers hooked.
To make matters worse, the gaming industry is bracing for the autumn launch of GTA 6, which threatens to suck all remaining oxygen and active players out of competing multiplayer titles.
Selling off a fading gaming empire for a record-breaking pile of cash right before competitors obliterate online play servers is an art form in corporate exit strategies.
Source: Reuters
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