Mon, 29 Sep 2025

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 Gaming giant Electronic Arts bought in unprecedented $55bn deal

EA is known for making best-selling games such as EA FC, The Sims and Mass Effect.
The purchase price puts a 25% premium on EA's market value, valuing it at $210 per share. The company will be taken private after the sale, with its public shares being purchased. The consortium will contribute approximately $36bn to the deal, with the remaining amount financed by loans. The deal is expected to result in $20bn of debt for EA, which will need to be serviced through revenue generated by games such as FIFA and Madden. EA's boss Andrew Wilson said the deal was a "powerful recognition" of the company's work and that it would create transformative experiences for future generations. However, industry experts have expressed concerns about the potential impact on EA's ability to invest in new games due to the debt obligations. The sale marks a significant extension of Saudi Arabia's reach in the gaming industry, following its previous investments in companies such as Niantic and Scopely Inc. The country has been increasing its presence in the industry in recent years, hosting major tournaments and investing in other big gaming firms. The deal is also notable for being the second most valuable gaming purchase in history, after Microsoft's $69bn deal to buy Activision Blizzard.
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