Electronic Arts nears record $50B buyout to become private company

Electronic Arts, the gaming giant behind franchises like FIFA, Madden, and The Sims, is reportedly on the verge of being taken private in a deal valued at up to $50 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The potential buyout would involve investment firms Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Affinity Partners, a firm led by Jared Kushner. A formal announcement could come as early as next week. News of the deal sent EA’s stock soaring 14% on Friday.

If completed, the transaction would become the largest leveraged buyout in history, eclipsing the previous record—the $32 billion acquisition of Texas utility TXU in 2007.

EA has long been a major player in the video game industry, with best-selling titles such as EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, and The Sims. Its sports games remain top performers, while anticipation builds for the release of Battlefield 6.

The news also coincides with the launch of EA Sports FC 26 across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and other platforms, as fans await the next major FPS installment following a successful Battlefield 6 test weekend.