EA is expected to become a private company on August 4 after the investor group behind its $55 billion takeover secured all required regulatory approvals. The deal marks a major milestone for one of the world’s largest video game publishers and will end its decades-long run as a publicly traded company.
According to a regulatory filing, EA confirmed that all approvals required for the merger had been received by July 30. The company expects the transaction to close at the end of trading on Tuesday, August 4.
The takeover has also cleared the European Union’s remaining review under its Foreign Subsidies Regulation. This removes the final major regulatory obstacle before the acquisition is completed.
Once the deal closes, EA will end its nearly 37 years as a publicly listed company. The gaming giant first entered the stock market in 1989 with a market value of around $84 million. Since then, it has grown into one of the biggest names in the global gaming industry.
The acquisition is being led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) together with private equity firm Silver Lake and investment company Affinity Partners.
Under the agreed ownership structure, the PIF will hold 93.4% of the company. Silver Lake will own 5.5%, while Affinity Partners will control the remaining 1.1%.
The companies originally reached the takeover agreement in September 2025. After completion, EA will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Oak-Eagle AcquireCo, a company created specifically for the acquisition.
The $55 billion transaction is considered the largest all-cash sponsor-backed take-private deal ever announced. Earlier details showed the financing package would include about $36 billion in equity funding and $20 billion in debt financing.
Over the years, EA has built a strong portfolio of successful gaming franchises. The company gained early success through its sports titles, including John Madden Football, which helped establish its position in the industry.
The publisher later expanded by acquiring several well-known game studios. These include Maxis, Criterion Games, DICE, and BioWare. These studios are responsible for popular franchises such as The Sims, Battlefield, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age.
Today, Criterion Games and DICE continue working on the Battlefield series, while BioWare remains known for its role-playing games.
Reports have suggested that some BioWare employees are concerned about the company’s future under its new ownership. These concerns include possible layoffs or further restructuring after the acquisition is completed.
The company has already announced job cuts at teams involved in the development of Battlefield 6, even though the game reportedly became the franchise’s best-performing title during a fiscal year.
Going private will remove EA from the pressure of meeting quarterly expectations in the public stock market. However, it remains uncertain how the new ownership group will shape the company’s future strategy, workforce, and game development plans.
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The completion of the takeover marks the beginning of a new chapter for EA. Industry observers will closely watch how the company evolves under its new ownership in the years ahead.
