So, here’s the scoop: Jared Kushner, who many know as Trump’s son-in-law, is teaming up with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and others in a jaw-dropping $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts (EA), the brain behind epic gaming franchises like The Sims, Madden NFL, and Battlefield.
Electronic Arts just dropped the news on Monday, September 29th, revealing that it will officially get taken private by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with investors Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. It’s worth mentioning, Affinity Partners is actually founded by none other than Jared Kushner himself, who is married to Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump.
Despite this monumental shift, fans of EA can chill; the company will still call Redwood City, California, home and Andrew Wilson will remain in his role as CEO according to official reports.
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Interestingly, this acquisition news drops right before the much-anticipated launch of Battlefield 6, which is set to hit the shelves on October 10. The game has already created a buzz with a trailer featuring stars like Zac Efron, Morgan Wallen, and sports figures like Jimmy Butler and Paddy Pimblett.
What Does This Move Mean for Gamers?
Although this big acquisition won’t finalize until the 2027 fiscal year – kicking off in September 2026 – there shouldn’t be any disruption for current EA customers or their gaming experiences until then.
Effects on Public Shareholders
If you’re one of the public shareholders, the deal means you’ll be looking at a nice $210 in cash per share, as detailed in the announcement.
Who’s Behind the Investment? Meet PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners
Let’s Talk PIF
PIF, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds on the globe with around $925 billion in managed assets. They own a diversity of investments, including stakes in big names like Uber. You can check out their portfolio on their website.
About Silver Lake
Founded in 1999 by business titans Glenn Hutchins and Roger McNamee, Silver Lake is a private equity heavyweight. Their portfolio features substantial companies like Dell Technologies, as well as notable names like Learfield and Noom. They’re based in Menlo Park, California and have been in the spotlight for discussions about purchasing TikTok’s U.S. assets.
What’s Affinity Partners?
Launched by Kushner in 2021, Affinity Partners is an investment firm out of Miami focusing on U.S. and Israeli companies.
Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Ambitions
This interest in EA is actually part of the bigger picture known as Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to steer investments into various sectors beyond oil. Back in 2021, PIF put in around $3.3 billion into Activision Blizzard, the company behind popular games like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. Moreover, PIF is actively exploring various gaming avenues, including the planning for the 2025 eSports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
This article was later updated with additional details.
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