Ethan Crossfield 
Electronic Arts has officially become a private company after a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners completed its acquisition. The $55 billion all-cash deal ends EA’s time as a publicly traded publisher and begins a new phase with major questions surrounding investment, studio strategy, and upcoming games.
What happened
The three investor groups, collectively referred to as the Consortium, have closed the transaction first announced last September. The Public Investment Fund, which already held a small stake in EA, joined technology investment firm Silver Lake and Miami-based Affinity Partners in taking the publisher private. Affinity Partners was founded and is led by Jared Kushner, a former White House senior advisor.
The deal values EA at $55 billion and has been described as the largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment in history. EA shareholders who approved the transaction in December receive $210 for every share of common stock they owned at closing. Following the completion, EA shares have been removed from the NASDAQ exchange.
Chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson presented the acquisition as an opportunity to invest more aggressively in creativity and innovation. The company says its new partners share its ambitions for the future of interactive entertainment.
Why it matters
Going private changes how EA is accountable and how its results are judged. Without public shareholders and quarterly market scrutiny, the publisher may have greater room to pursue longer-term projects, restructure studios, or make larger investments. That flexibility could benefit development, but it also makes the company’s priorities harder for players and the wider industry to assess.
EA’s biggest annual franchises appear positioned to continue. Madden, FC, and NHL remain central to the publisher’s release plans, with Madden NFL 27, FC 27, and NHL 27 listed among its 2026 titles. However, the deal does not clarify the future of several more closely watched projects and teams.
What to watch next
BioWare’s upcoming fifth Mass Effect game is one of the clearest tests of EA’s stated commitment to creative investment. Motive Studio’s long-awaited Iron Man project is another unresolved piece of the publisher’s portfolio. Respawn Entertainment is also reportedly working on a third Star Wars Jedi game, though the source provides no confirmed release details.
The near-term calendar includes Star Wars Zero Company alongside EA’s sports lineup. Fans will be watching whether private ownership leads to stronger support for these projects, changes to studio structures, or a sharper focus on proven franchises. EA also launched an advertising platform in June that promises non-disruptive brand integration in its games, adding another strategic development to monitor.
Key takeaways for players and fans
- EA is no longer publicly traded, and its shares have been delisted from NASDAQ.
- Shareholders approved a cash payment of $210 per EA share at closing.
- The Consortium includes PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
- Madden, FC, and NHL remain part of the announced 2026 release slate.
- The acquisition leaves the status and direction of projects such as Mass Effect, Iron Man, and the next Star Wars Jedi unclear.
Expert View
EA’s private ownership is not automatically good or bad for its games; its value will be measured by what happens behind the curtain. The Consortium has bought time and flexibility, but players will expect that freedom to produce healthier studios, ambitious releases, and clearer support for EA’s most important projects rather than simply more reliance on established annual brands.
