EA Acquired for $55B in Historic Deal, Publisher of Madden, FC and More Video Games

Electronic Arts announced Monday it agreed to a sale valuing the company at $55 billion.

Under the deal, EA will no longer be a publicly traded company. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners will share ownership amongst themselves.

EA said the sale should close in the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year.

"Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world's most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business," EA CEO Andrew Wilson said. "This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work.

"Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building."

Wilson, who will remain in his executive role after the sale, wrote a memo to EA employees saying the day-to-day operations shouldn't change under new ownership.

Sports fans are very familiar with EA's work through the EA Sports subsidiary.

Beginning with the 2005 season, Electronic Arts maintained an exclusive agreement with the NFL so that Madden was the only officially licensed football video game on the market.

The EA FC franchise, which previously used the FIFA branding, is a worldwide phenomenon. College Football 25, the first college game since 2013, set United States sales records. EA Sports produces games for Formula 1, the NHL and UFC as well.

Electronic Arts' portfolio also includes The Sims, Need for Speed, Battlefield and Star Wars video game franchises.