Electronic Arts has told investors that its massive take-private buyout has cleared every regulatory hurdle and is on track to close next week. In an 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the publisher confirmed the deal should finalize around August 4.
"As of July 30, 2026, all regulatory approvals required to complete the Merger have been obtained," the filing reads, adding that EA "currently expects the merger to close on or about the close of trading on August 4, 2026." The company noted the completion still hinges on "the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining customary closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement," but as Rock Paper Shotgun put it, this is now "pretty much a done deal pending any unforeseen hiccups."
What the deal actually is
First announced in September 2025, the acquisition values EA at roughly $55 billion and will hand the company to a consortium made up of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Jared Kushner. According to VGC, PIF will hold 93.4 percent of EA once the deal completes, with Silver Lake taking 5.5 percent and Affinity Partners the remaining 1.1 percent.
VGC also reports that this will be the largest leveraged buyout in history, an acquisition largely funded by borrowed money secured against the target company's own assets and future revenue. The move will take EA private again, 36 years after it went public on the NASDAQ in March 1990. The final approval follows the European Commission signing off on the merger, having concluded it did not "raise competition concerns." CEO Andrew Wilson is expected to remain in charge afterward.
Why it remains controversial
The buyout has drawn sustained criticism tied to Saudi Arabia's human rights record. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who chairs PIF, has been accused by US intelligence of ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and Amnesty International cites the kingdom's record on arbitrary detention, treatment of migrant workers, and discrimination against women and LGBTQI+ people.
Those concerns have surfaced inside EA's own studios. Maxis, the team behind The Sims, publicly stated in January that its values would not change under new ownership, writing that "from day one, our values have been the foundation behind every choice we've made." Developers on the series have said they would resist any orders to reduce diversity in EA games.
Workers have pushed back too. The United Videogame Workers-CWA union warned last October that "every time private equity or billionaire investors take a studio private, workers lose visibility, transparency, and power." Rock Paper Shotgun notes that 46 US lawmakers earlier signed a letter to the Federal Trade Commission raising similar concerns. Game Developer adds that some analysts have flagged the risk of EA being used for "culture washing."
What it means for players
With EA controlling franchises like Battlefield, EA Sports FC, The Sims, and Dead Space, a change in ownership this large sits behind a lot of games people are waiting on. Nothing about release schedules changes overnight, but the closing next week marks the moment those decisions move behind closed doors. If you follow the next Battlefield, EA Sports FC, or The Sims, keep an eye on how the new ownership structure shapes budgets, priorities, and creative direction in the months ahead.