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EU Clears Saudi Arabia's $55B EA Acquisition, Paving Way for Record Buyout
Electronic ArtsMergers and AcquisitionsSaudi ArabiaEuropean Commission

EU Clears Saudi Arabia's $55B EA Acquisition, Paving Way for Record Buyout

Jul 24, 20264 sources0 comments

The European Commission has officially approved Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts, concluding that the deal does not "raise competition concerns." The acquisition, which also involves private equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners (an investment firm founded by Jared Kushner), is now one significant step closer to completion after clearing one of its most important regulatory hurdles.

If finalized, the deal would stand as the largest private leveraged buyout in history. The EU's green light is a major milestone for the controversial transaction, though additional regulatory approvals may still be required in other jurisdictions before the acquisition is fully complete. The move signals continued aggressive investment by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund into the global gaming industry, with EA, the publisher behind franchises like Madden NFL, FIFA (EA Sports FC), and Mass Effect, set to become its marquee gaming asset.

Key Insights

  • 1The European Commission approved the $55 billion deal, stating it does not raise competition concerns.
  • 2The acquisition involves Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner.
  • 3If completed, this would be the largest private leveraged buyout in history.
  • 4The EU approval is a major regulatory milestone, though the deal may still require clearance in other jurisdictions.
  • 5The deal represents a landmark moment in Saudi Arabia's push to become a dominant force in the global gaming industry.

Sources

EA's $55B Saudi Arabian buyout just got one step closer thanks to the EU

Polygon · Jul 23, 2026

Saudi Arabia's $55 billion EA buyout approved by the European Commission, who say it doesn't "raise competition concerns"

Rock Paper Shotgun · Jul 23, 2026

EU approves Saudi Arabia's $55bn acquisition of EA, clearing path for largest private leveraged buyout of all time

Eurogamer · Jul 23, 2026

Saudi Arabia's divisive EA buyout approved under EU merger rules

Game Developer · Jul 23, 2026