EU Clears $55 Billion EA Buyout Led by Saudi Arabia’s PIF

The European Commission has approved the proposed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. According to the Commission’s announcement, the deal was cleared under the EU Merger Regulation after a normal review procedure.

The Commission said the transaction “would not raise competition concerns,” citing its limited impact on the markets where the companies are active. That means the EU has approved the deal without requiring concessions from the buyers.

The buyout offer was first reported in September 2025, with the consortium led by PIF and including Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The deal is also backed by more than $20 billion in debt financing from JPMorgan.

EA shareholders have already approved the acquisition, though the deal has still faced scrutiny outside the EU. The Communications Workers of America previously urged US regulators to examine the buyout’s potential impact on workers and the wider games industry, while US lawmakers also called for a close review of possible labor market effects.

If completed, the EA acquisition would be the largest leveraged buyout in history. EA has said it expects to maintain creative control and creative freedom under the new ownership group. Not much is expected to change for fans of EA titles.