Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is already one of the wealthiest and most influential financial forces on the planet, and rumours of its interest in acquiring a major stake in Electronic Arts have been circulating for months. Now, newly surfaced information has clarified just how substantial that takeover may be.
For those who haven’t followed the developments, this move forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to grow its global footprint through high-profile investments. The PIF has poured billions into sport, gaming, entertainment, and media over recent years—and EA now appears to be the next major name in its sights.
PIF Will Own Over 93% of EA
As was reported by Football Gaming Zone (through a paywalled Wall Street Journal report), the Saudi PIF will acquire a massive 93.4% of EA if the deal is finalized. The remaining shares will be split between Silver Lake (5.5%) and Affinity (1.1%), making PIF the overwhelming majority owner by a huge margin.
The WSJ also states that the fund will need to contribute roughly $29 billion to complete the takeover—a staggering figure even by modern gaming industry standards.
Despite PIF’s dominant control, filing reports suggest EA will retain full creative independence. In theory, EA and its various teams will continue operating without interference in development decisions, future titles, or internal strategy.
Whether that promise holds true in the long term remains to be seen. Ownership changes of this scale often reshape companies in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. For now, all eyes will be on how EA navigates the transition—and what influence, if any, its new majority owner will ultimately exert.
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