EU Clears Saudi PIF's $55 B Takeover of Electronic Arts

The European Commission has approved the planned acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The deal, valued at about $55 billion, will give PIF roughly 93 % ownership of the U.S. game publisher after completion. The Commission concluded that the transaction does not raise competition concerns under the EU Merger Regulation, citing its limited impact on the markets for PC, console, mobile games and esports.

The consortium also includes private‑equity firm Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. It is structured as a leveraged buyout, the largest in history, and would increase EA’s debt to roughly $20 billion. While antitrust clearance removes a major hurdle, the deal still faces review under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation and other regulators such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Industry observers note potential restructuring pressures on EA’s studios and the broader strategic significance of Saudi sovereign wealth entering the global gaming sector.