### Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Set to Acquire 93.4% of Electronic Arts The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is on the verge of acquiring a staggering **93.4%** stake in Electronic Arts (EA) through a monumental **$55 billion** buyout deal. This acquisition would grant the PIF near-total control over the gaming giant, raising significant concerns about the future direction and strategic decisions of EA, particularly regarding its popular franchises like FIFA and Battlefield. The deal, which is expected to close next year, has sparked discussions about the implications for gamers and the gaming industry at large, as the PIF is also a notable investor in other firms involved in the acquisition consortium, namely Silver Lake and Affinity Partners [https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/saudi-fund-to-control-93-percent-of-ea-new-filing-reveals][https://www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabias-pif-will-own-over-934-of-ea-if-the-deal-completes]. ### Breakdown of the Acquisition and Its Implications 1. **Ownership Structure**: - The PIF will hold **93.4%** of EA, while Silver Lake and Affinity Partners will own **5.5%** and **1.1%**, respectively [https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/saudi-arabia-will-own-93-4-percent-of-ea-after-buyout]. 2. **Strategic Concerns**: - With such a significant stake, the PIF's influence could steer EA's future projects and business strategies, potentially prioritizing profit over player experience [https://www.gamespot.com/articles/majority-control-of-ea-could-shift-to-saudi-arabias-public-investment-fund-report/1100-6536660]. 3. **Industry Reactions**: - The acquisition has been met with mixed reactions from industry experts and gamers, who are concerned about the implications of a sovereign wealth fund controlling a major gaming entity [https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-almost-entirely-owned-by-saudi-arabia-sale]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Financial Overview**: - The total value of the buyout is **$55 billion**. - Ownership distribution post-acquisition: - **PIF**: **93.4%** - **Silver Lake**: **5.5%** - **Affinity Partners**: **1.1%** [https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/it-turns-out-saudi-arabia-will-own-93-4-percent-of-ea-if-the-buyout-goes-through-which-is-effectively-all-of-it]. - **Market Impact**: - The deal is considered "unusual" for a sovereign wealth fund to take such a large percentage of a publicly traded company, indicating a shift in investment strategies within the gaming sector [https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/saudi-arabias-pif-will-own-93-of-ea-after-proposed-buyout-with-the-rest-of-the-consortium-taking-a-much-smaller-share]. ### Conclusion: A New Era for Electronic Arts In summary, the impending acquisition of **93.4%** of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund marks a significant shift in the gaming landscape. 1. **Near-Total Control**: The PIF's acquisition will lead to near-total control over EA, raising questions about the company's future direction and priorities. 2. **Investor Influence**: The limited stakes held by other consortium members suggest that the PIF will have the dominant voice in strategic decisions. 3. **Industry Implications**: This move could set a precedent for future investments in the gaming industry, potentially altering the relationship between developers and players. As the deal progresses, stakeholders will be closely monitoring how this acquisition impacts EA's operations and the broader gaming community [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-12-02/saudi-arabia-to-own-almost-all-of-ea-under-buyout-plan-report-says].