EA Shareholders Approve Saudi-Led $55 Billion Takeover, Paving Way for Historic Gaming Buyout

Electronic Arts (EA) shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the video game publisher’s proposed $55 billion takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), marking a decisive step toward what would become the largest leveraged buyout in corporate history.

According to a regulatory filing, more than 201 million shares were voted in favor of the acquisition, compared to just 1.9 million votes against, with around 90,000 abstentions. The margin leaves little doubt about shareholder sentiment, effectively clearing the first major procedural barrier for the deal.

The vote also covered executive compensation tied to the transaction’s completion, which passed by a similarly wide margin despite slightly higher opposition. With shareholder approval now secured, the acquisition moves into the regulatory review phase, widely viewed by analysts as the final substantive hurdle.

A $55bn Deal to Take EA Private

Under the terms of the agreement, Electronic Arts will be taken private, with shareholders receiving $210 per share, a roughly 25 percent premium over the company’s closing price on September 25, 2025, shortly before the deal was announced.

The transaction will be financed in part by a $20 billion loan, a structure that has raised concerns among some industry observers about long-term financial risk. Once completed, Saudi Arabia is expected to control approximately 93.4 percent of EA, effectively granting the kingdom near-total ownership of one of the world’s most influential game publishers.

EA is best known for blockbuster franchises such as FIFA (now EA Sports FC), Battlefield, The Sims, and Apex Legends, giving the acquisition major implications for the global gaming industry.

Saudi Arabia’s Expanding Gaming Footprint

The takeover fits into Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of aggressively expanding its footprint in gaming, esports, and sports entertainment. Through the PIF and its subsidiary Savvy Games Group, the kingdom has already invested in or acquired stakes in major gaming companies, including Capcom, Nintendo, Nexon, Embracer Group, Take-Two Interactive, and ESL.

Beyond gaming, Saudi Arabia has also made high-profile investments in traditional sports, including Newcastle United Football Club and the LIV Golf tour, as part of a wider effort to diversify its economy and reshape its global image.

Critics, however, argue that such investments are designed to “sportswash” the country’s human rights record, a criticism that has followed many of the PIF’s international deals.

Political and Ethical Scrutiny Looms

While regulatory approval is still pending, few expect significant resistance. The PIF is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, while one of the minority investors in the EA deal is Affinity Partners, an investment firm owned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump.

The political connections surrounding the deal, along with Mohammed bin Salman’s continued international rehabilitation following the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, have drawn renewed ethical scrutiny from activists and industry watchers.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson, who is set to remain in his role following the acquisition, previously sought to reassure employees and players that the company’s culture would remain intact. In a statement issued when the deal was announced in September, Wilson said EA’s “values will remain unchanged” under the new ownership structure.

What Comes Next for EA

With shareholder approval secured, attention now turns to regulators and the practical implications of taking EA private. Analysts say the leveraged nature of the buyout could limit the company’s flexibility in the short term, particularly if flagship releases underperform or development costs rise.

At the same time, private ownership could allow EA to pursue longer-term strategies without the quarterly pressure of public markets, a potential advantage in an industry increasingly defined by high budgets, long development cycles, and live-service models.

If regulators give the green light, the deal would mark a turning point not only for Electronic Arts but also for Saudi Arabia’s role in shaping the future of the global gaming industry, a future that now appears increasingly intertwined with the kingdom’s economic ambitions.

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