EA's $55 billion Saudi-led takeover is complete, with Jared Kushner's firm among its new owners

Electronic Arts (EA), the video game giant, has been acquired by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), valued at $55 billion. This consortium also includes investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the latter founded by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump. PIF, which already owned a 9.9% stake in EA, now holds a 93.4% share in the company and has minority stakes in Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, and Activision Blizzard.

The deal was confirmed to be complete, with the PIF having a deep understanding of EA's platform, franchises, and intellectual property. EA CEO Andrew Wilson stated that the acquisition brings long-term capital, sector expertise, and strategic support, while promising to maintain creative control and player-first values. Despite concerns over Saudi Arabia's human rights record, CFIUS has cleared the acquisition, though the findings and safeguards imposed have not been made public.

The merger has been controversial, with Democratic senators Blumenthal and Warren raising national security risks due to PIF's strategic arm role. Despite these concerns, EA has acknowledged that its track record of creative freedom and player-first values will remain intact. The deal also includes a $20 billion debt financing from JPMorgan Chase, and Andrew Wilson's compensation of $38 million for his role in the acquisition is expected to come from this funding, potentially leading to more layoffs.