According to Eurogamer.net, Electronic Arts shareholders have approved the proposed $55 billion acquisition of the video game publisher by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The deal, first announced in September 2024, would leave the PIF with a 93.4 percent ownership stake in EA. The buyout consortium also includes private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the latter founded by Jared Kushner. With shareholder approval secured, the only remaining obstacle is a potential block by the US government, which would make this the largest corporate buyout in history. The PIF’s cash reserves are expected to be significantly depleted if the acquisition is completed.
The final (and biggest) hurdle
So, the shareholders are on board. That was probably the easy part. Now, the real drama shifts to Washington D.C. We’re talking about a foreign government—one with a deeply controversial human rights record—gaining control of a massive piece of American pop culture and tech infrastructure. Think about it: Madden, FIFA (well, FC), Apex Legends, The Sims. This isn’t just buying a company; it’s buying influence over a global audience of hundreds of millions.
And here’s the thing: the political winds are not favorable. There’s growing, bipartisan skepticism in the U.S. about foreign investments in critical sectors, with tech and media being front and center. The involvement of Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners adds another layer of political complexity, guaranteed to draw intense scrutiny. Video game unions and human rights groups are already vocal in opposition. Can the Biden administration, in an election year, greenlight this? It seems like a monumental lift.
The Saudi playbook and what comes next
This is the culmination of Saudi Arabia’s massive spending spree in global entertainment and sports. They’ve bought into golf, soccer, boxing, and now they’re at the precipice of owning one of gaming’s “big three” publishers. Critics call it sportswashing or, in this case, “game-washing”—using high-profile investments to launder a country’s international image. Whether you buy that argument or not, the strategic goal is clear: pivot the economy away from oil and become a powerhouse in soft culture and tourism.
But what happens if the deal does go through? For EA, day-to-day operations might not change immediately. These sovereign funds typically want a return on investment, not to micromanage game development. But the long-term influence is undeniable. Will EA’s studios ever greenlight a game with themes critical of the Saudi government? Unlikely. Will there be pressure to build infrastructure or host events in the Kingdom? Almost certainly. The creative and corporate sovereignty of a California-based institution would fundamentally shift.
Basically, we’re in uncharted territory. A deal of this scale, in this industry, with this particular buyer, has never been attempted. The shareholder vote was just the opening act. The main event is a geopolitical showdown that will test the limits of foreign investment in an industry that Washington is only just beginning to understand as critically important.
