#saudi-pif

#saudi-pif

In an move notable for its size, though certainly not its content, a group of investors-including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's firm Affinity Partners-have purchased EA for $55 billion. It's the second-biggest acquisition in video game history, after Microsoft's $68.7 billion absorption of Activision Blizzard, but unlike that monstrosity, which was subject to antitrust regulations, this feels like a done deal, a straight purchase of one of gaming's biggest and worst studios.

Electronic Arts just announced that it is going to be acquired and taken private in a massive $55 billion deal led by an investor group composed of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The deal, expected to close in Q1 of EA's 2027 fiscal year (which takes place from April 1st to June 30th, 2026), isn't just a huge amount of money involving one of gaming's largest publishers;

Electronic Arts, maker of video games like "Madden NFL," "Battlefield," and "The Sims," is being acquired for $52.5 billion in what could become the largest-ever buyout funded by private-equity firms. The private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF, and Affinity Partners will pay EA's stockholders $210 per share. The companies value the deal at about $55 billion, including debt. Affinity Partners is run by President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

A new report claims that Electronic Arts is close to finalizing a deal to go completely private via a $50 billion buyout being put together by a group of investors that includes multiple private-equity companies as well as Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). The deal could be unveiled as soon as next week. On September 26, The Wall Street Journal reported that massive video game publisher EA, the company behind popular and lucrative annual sports games like Madden,

Newcastle United, backed by the financial firepower of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), are reportedly preparing to make a club-record bid for Dani Olmo, the Barcelona attacking midfielder. According to Spanish outlet E-Noticies, Olmo would be ready to depart Barca if the right offer comes, and that Newcastle are poised to trigger that moment with an offer in the region of 90 million (around 78m).

Yesterday Qiddiya Gaming, which is backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). announced it was taking full ownership of RTS, making it the second-biggest stakeholder for Evo. Chief strategy officer Muhannad Aldawood called it "a strategic step that will further strengthen our esports business and unlock new opportunities across the broader gaming ecosystem." He added, "most importantly, this will enable Qiddiya to keep fueling the continued growth of Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world's largest fighting game event since 1996, with unlimited potentials."