{"id":2058216,"date":"2026-07-23T14:44:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T11:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2058216"},"modified":"2026-07-23T14:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T11:44:21","slug":"eu-approves-saudi-arabias-55bn-acquisition-of-ea-clearing-path-for-largest-private-leveraged-buyout-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2058216","title":{"rendered":"EU approves Saudi Arabia&#8217;s $55bn acquisition of EA, clearing path for largest private leveraged buyout of all time"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">EU approves Saudi Arabia&#8217;s $55bn acquisition of EA, clearing path for largest private leveraged buyout of all time<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">It&#8217;s in the game.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/mass-effect-shepard-sad.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Mass Effect Shepard Sad.\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"mass-effect-shepard-sad.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Bioware<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Connor Makar avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/tAtwiaBo_400x400.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"374\" height=\"374\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Connor Makar avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"tAtwiaBo_400x400.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"374\" height=\"374\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/connor-makar\">Connor Makar<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Staff Writer<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-07-23T14:44:21+00:00\">July 23, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/saudi-arabian-pif-aquisition-electronic-arts-approved-european-union?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          13 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>The European Union has approved the controversial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/ea-privately-acquired-in-55bn-deal-by-group-of-investors-including-saudi-arabias-investment-fund-and-donald-trumps-son-in-law\">$55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Public Investment Fund<\/a> (PIF), private equity company Silver Lake, and investment company Affinity Partners.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/mex_26_1675\">European Commission announced its decision in a bulletin<\/a>, saying the proposed acquisition was approved after its normal merger review procedure determined no competition concerns would be raised as a result of the buyout.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"The Next Mass Effect - Official Teaser Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Lg-Ctg6k_Ao?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Lg-Ctg6k_Ao\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">The Next Mass Effect &#8211; Official Teaser Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div><figcaption>Here&#8217;s the Mass Effect 4 teaser trailer, released around five years ago.<a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lg-Ctg6k_Ao\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>EA&#8217;s acquisition was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/ea-shareholders-approve-saudi-arabian-buyout-leaving-only-the-us-government-able-to-block-the-deal\">approved by stakeholders in December last year<\/a> and, with the European Commission now giving the thumbs up, it&#8217;s likely no major national barriers to its completion remain. If it goes through, the $55bn leveraged buyout (meaning an acquisition done mostly with borrowed debt) will be the largest in history.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s not the only reason the acquisition has proved controversial. Saudi Arabia&#8217;s ongoing financial hoovering of video game developers, publishers, and gaming events has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/eas-takeover-the-saudi-arabian-public-investment-fund-and-vanity-mega-projects-human-rights-watch-assesses-the-impact-of-gamings-latest-controversy\">criticised by human rights organisations as sportswashing<\/a>. The country&#8217;s recorded human rights abuses and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi have provoked international outcry, and its investment in overseas industries is widely seen as an effort to better its standing and entice investment.<\/p>\n<p>EA&#8217;s acquisition &#8211; which also involves US president Donald Trump&#8217;s son-in-law Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners &#8211; has been criticised by video game industry unions too. Last October, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/ea-union-workers-rally-against-55bn-saudi-backed-private-acquisition-with-formal-petition-to-regulators\">the Communications Workers of America pushed back against the deal<\/a> and later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/uvw-union-fed-trade-commission-letter-petition\">wrote to the US Federal Trade Commission to ask for assistance opposing the deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>The European Union has approved the controversial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/ea-privately-acquired-in-55bn-deal-by-group-of-investors-including-saudi-arabias-investment-fund-and-donald-trumps-son-in-law\">$55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Public Investment Fund<\/a> (PIF), private equity company Silver Lake, and investment company Affinity Partners.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/mex_26_1675\">European Commission announced its decision in a bulletin<\/a>, saying the proposed acquisition was approved after its normal merger review procedure determined no competition concerns would be raised as a result of the buyout.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"The Next Mass Effect - Official Teaser Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Lg-Ctg6k_Ao?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Lg-Ctg6k_Ao\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">The Next Mass Effect &#8211; Official Teaser Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div><figcaption>Here&#8217;s the Mass Effect 4 teaser trailer, released around five years ago.<a class=\"video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Lg-Ctg6k_Ao\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>EA&#8217;s acquisition was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/ea-shareholders-approve-saudi-arabian-buyout-leaving-only-the-us-government-able-to-block-the-deal\">approved by stakeholders in December last year<\/a> and, with the European Commission now giving the thumbs up, it&#8217;s likely no major national barriers to its completion remain. If it goes through, the $55bn leveraged buyout (meaning an acquisition done mostly with borrowed debt) will be the largest in history.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s not the only reason the acquisition has proved controversial. Saudi Arabia&#8217;s ongoing financial hoovering of video game developers, publishers, and gaming events has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/eas-takeover-the-saudi-arabian-public-investment-fund-and-vanity-mega-projects-human-rights-watch-assesses-the-impact-of-gamings-latest-controversy\">criticised by human rights organisations as sportswashing<\/a>. The country&#8217;s recorded human rights abuses and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi have provoked international outcry, and its investment in overseas industries is widely seen as an effort to better its standing and entice investment.<\/p>\n<p>EA&#8217;s acquisition &#8211; which also involves US president Donald Trump&#8217;s son-in-law Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners &#8211; has been criticised by video game industry unions too. Last October, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/ea-union-workers-rally-against-55bn-saudi-backed-private-acquisition-with-formal-petition-to-regulators\">the Communications Workers of America pushed back against the deal<\/a> and later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/uvw-union-fed-trade-commission-letter-petition\">wrote to the US Federal Trade Commission to ask for assistance opposing the deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News EU approves Saudi Arabia&#8217;s $55bn acquisition of EA, clearing path for largest private leveraged buyout of all time It&#8217;s in the game. Image credit: Bioware News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on July 23, 2026 13 comments The European Union has approved the controversial $55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-2058216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2058216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058216\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2058216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2058216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2058216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}