Report: $55 billion EA deal to be approved by EU regulators

Regulators in the European Union are expected to give their nod of approval for EA's proposed $55 billion take-private deal.

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EA, one of the biggest games companies in the world, is going private. A consortium of investors pooled $55 billion to buy out all remaining EA stock and take the company private for the first time since EA's inception. The deal is being financed principally by the Saudi PIF, a sovereign wealth fund that has been spending billions to acquire significant portions of the games market, including Scopely, Moonton, and Niantic's gaming assets. It's estimated that the Saudi PIF will fund 93% of the deal, granting major voting rights in the process. Other partners include Affinity Partners and Silver Lake.

The deal has been scrutinized by regulators, but is making headway behind the scenes. Sources tell Reuters that the EU is ready to approve the take-private deal under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) division. The decision is expected to be made public on July 30, however, an unconditional approval of the deal under merger guidelines could be announced when the initial investigation ends on July 22.

Electronic Arts has apparently been emboldened by the deal. In a move that may just be coincidence, or something indicative of future business models, EA recently introduced one of the most controversial features in modern sports gaming by adding microtransactions into College Football 27's singleplayer mode.

The publisher relented and changed its mind after mass pushback from fans, yet it's still an interesting example of EA pushing the bar. EA was also among the first companies to introduce and reinforce the move to $70 games at the start of the generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Question #1

Which investors make up the consortium financing EA's take-private deal and what stake is the Saudi PIF reported to provide?

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Question #2

Could the EU still require remedies or conditions when approving EA's deal under merger guidelines after the initial investigation?

The article says an unconditional approval of the deal under merger guidelines could be announced when the initial investigation ends on July 22. The article does not state whether the EU could still impose remedies or conditions after that initial investigation.

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Question #3

How might the reported voting control from the Saudi PIF affect EA's corporate governance after the buyout?

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Question #4

Did EA's recent business moves—like adding microtransactions to College Football 27—feature in regulatory scrutiny or public commentary about the deal?

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Back in March, it was revealed that EA had made a record $8 billion in net bookings during FY26.