Saudi PIF's $55 Billion Acquisition of EA Clears Final Hurdle, Closing Expected August 4

Electronic Arts confirmed in an SEC filing that it has obtained all required regulatory clearances for its $55 billion sale to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners joining as co-investors. The EU approval under the bloc's Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) — seen as the larger challenge after EU merger rules were cleared the prior week — removes the last major obstacle. The consortium expects the all-cash transaction to close on August 4, the company said.

The Biggest Deal in Gaming History

At $55 billion, the acquisition marks the largest gaming-industry transaction ever and a major step in Saudi Arabia's strategy to become a global hub for gaming and sports while diversifying its economy beyond oil. PIF already holds stakes in Nintendo, Take-Two, Capcom, and Nexon, and its Savvy Games Group has funded esports and developer acquisitions.

Opposition Remains

The deal is not without critics. The United Videogame Workers-CWA union has criticized the transaction for reducing worker visibility and power, and 46 U.S. lawmakers signed a letter to the FTC expressing concerns about national-security and labor implications. PIF has framed the deal as a commercial investment, but regulators on both sides of the Atlantic will continue to watch how the new owners operate one of gaming's biggest publishers.