As of today, Saudi Arabia's PIF, Jared Kushner and Affinity Partners are the new owners.
It's all come to an official end after almost a year of coverage on the topic of EA buyout and The Sims Franchise, among many other IPs getting new owners.
Andrew Wilson, "the boss" and CEO of Electronic Arts who took home $38.6 million in revenue while laying off the team that brought him 8 million extra has announced today the completion of the EA buyout deal.
In case you've been out of the loop, Electronic Arts has now switched from a public trading company to a private company. All of EAs original IPs now fall under the ownership of Saudi Arabia's Mohammad Bin Salman, Jared Kushner's Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. A Washington Post report from December 2025 states that "PIF would own 93.4% of EA, while Silver Lake and Affinity would own 5.5% and 1.1% respectively".
Official Statement on EA Buyout for Press
Read the full official statement on the EA buyout from Andrew Wilson and its new owners down below:
EA Announces Completion of Acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners
EA Positioned to Accelerate Creativity and Innovation to Shape the Future of Entertainment
Consortium Brings Long-Term Capital, Sector Expertise and Strategic Support to Advance EA’s Next Chapter
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – August 4, 2026 – Electronic Arts Inc. (“EA” or “Electronic Arts”), a global leader in interactive entertainment, today announced that its acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners (collectively, the “Consortium”) has successfully closed. The Consortium’s agreement to acquire EA was previously announced on September 29, 2025, and was approved by EA stockholders at the special meeting of stockholders held on December 22, 2025.
"This moment recognizes the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world's leading interactive entertainment companies," said Andrew Wilson, Chairman & CEO of Electronic Arts. "We're entering this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition. Together, we'll invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences for the hundreds of millions of players and fans who inspire us every day."
“Having been a minority investor in the company for more than five years, we have a deep understanding of EA’s unique platform, massive global sports and gaming franchises, and iconic IP,” said Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF. “Entertainment and sports are key areas of strategic focus for PIF, and are among the fastest growing and evolving sectors around the world. Together, the Consortium is uniquely positioned to be a long-term partner to EA’s management team in driving sustained growth and innovation for EA and the industry.”
“EA’s franchises are some of the most beloved in entertainment, combining exceptional creative talent with a relentless focus on players,” said Egon Durban, CEO and Managing Partner of Silver Lake. “As long-term investors in technology, we admire how EA’s innovation fuels imagination and human connection. We’re proud to join with PIF and Affinity Partners to invest heavily in EA’s growth, including what AI can do to enhance game development and player experience, and excited to partner with Andrew and the EA team as they raise the bar for fans everywhere.”
“EA has created stories, characters, and communities that have become part of everyday life for hundreds of millions of people,” said Jared Kushner, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Partners. “We're excited to support the company as it continues to reach new audiences, inspire the next generation of creators, and expand the ways people around the world connect through play.”
With the transaction complete, EA stockholders will receive $210 in cash for each share of EA common stock they owned as of the closing. EA’s common stock has ceased trading and will be delisted from NASDAQ.
A different, more personal statement was sent out from Andrew Wilson to its employees regarding the EA buyout. Read the full message below:
The below announcement was shared with Electronic Arts employees by our CEO Andrew Wilson.
Team,
Every meaningful chapter in EA's history has begun with a simple belief: that the future can be bigger, bolder and more creative than the present.
More than forty years ago, Electronic Arts was founded on the idea that interactive entertainment could redefine the way people experienced stories, competition, creativity and connection. At a time when the possibilities of technology were only beginning to unfold, a small group of creators set out to challenge convention, push the boundaries of imagination, and create entirely new ways for people to experience entertainment.
We've never let go of that idea. The world, meanwhile, has transformed in ways few could have imagined. The way people play, create, connect, compete, and share experiences has continually evolved, and so have we. Along the way, we've celebrated spectacular successes, faced significant challenges, and returned every day with the same passion and drive to create amazing games for our players.
Today, as we begin our next chapter as a private company, the determination to keep learning and innovating remains one of our greatest strengths.
We're entering one of the most exciting and transformative moments our industry has ever seen. Around the world, fans choose interactive entertainment as their first and favorite way to experience community, culture, and shared fandom. Our games have become meaningful spaces where people build friendships, compete, express themselves, and create together.
Every era of innovation expands what's possible. New technologies open new doors, but it is the creativity, ingenuity and courage of our teams that transform possibilities into unforgettable experiences. At EA, we've always believed our greatest opportunity is to create what others haven't yet imagined. This is the spirit that has guided us for more than four decades, and it will continue to shape our future.
Leading this next phase requires bold creativity and exceptional execution. We have a deeply experienced leadership team across the company, and as our opportunities continue to expand, I'm excited to partner with Cam Weber as President and Chief Studios Officer, and David Tinson as President and Chief Operating Officer.
Cam and David have helped lead EA through some of our most transformative moments. Together, they bring experience, humility, and deep commitment to our teams and players. They know what makes EA special, and together we’ll continue building the world's greatest games, communities, and creative culture.
Our mission remains unchanged: To Inspire the World to Play.
As we begin this next chapter, I'm more optimistic than ever about what we'll create together. The opportunities ahead are extraordinary, and they'll be brought to life by our creativity, our ambition, and our belief in what's possible.
Thank you for everything you've done to bring us to this moment, and for everything we'll create together in the years ahead. The future of entertainment is still being written, and I couldn’t be more excited to write that next chapter together.
Have more questions regarding the EA buyout even after all this press talk? We have a detailed Fact VS Fiction article on the topic of this acquisiton and how it will affect The Sims Franchise moving forward.
Will this impact how you consume The Sims Franchise forward? Let us know in this unofficial community poll below:
What are your thoughts on the new ownership of Electronic Arts? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to Sims Community for more coverage on EA and The Sims Franchise.
7 Comments
Charlie
I uninstalled my sims game. I’m heartbroken, I’ve been playing it since the beginning, but I can’t play it knowing who owns it now.
NoCC All the Time
If anything made sense in this world, that looksmaxxing chad meme of a CEO would be the first to get a salary cut. It’s not even the KSA ownership that bugs me (hello, it’s not like EA wasn’t already operating under an oppressive regime or have USAins not been paying attention to the news?) but the fact that workers will be left bearing the brunt of both layoffs AND cost-cutting measures as more people boycott the game.
Ria
Reply to NoCC All the Time
Thank you, the double standard I see in the community is unbelievable
When are they going to give everyone their money back since this buyout happened
Jeremia Lecato
This is why Caribbean foods, Caribbean-inspired world, and reggae station will never make it to The Sims 4 due to EA being private, ever. It’s time for me to move onto Project X, and I don’t give a s**t.
Silver
Reply to Jeremia Lecato
did you hit your head?
The Sims and Project X are both still owned by EA. If you genuinely think the *buyout* is what prevented The Sims from getting Caribbean content, what in all worlds makes you think that Project X–developed mostly *after* the buyout, mind you!–will be any different?
Noah LGP
The meaning of these EA articles :
– The Biggest “Tell”, Silver Lake’s Push for AI : Labor cost reduction.
– The EA Sports Executive Takeover : The Sims and other games will now be run through the strict, high-margin, live-service operational lens of EA Sports.
– The “Long-Term Capital” Illusion : The “bold investments” they speak of will be strictly targeted at high-margin digital storefronts, automated tech platforms, and global esports expansion in Saudi Arabia.
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7 Comments
I uninstalled my sims game. I’m heartbroken, I’ve been playing it since the beginning, but I can’t play it knowing who owns it now.
If anything made sense in this world, that looksmaxxing chad meme of a CEO would be the first to get a salary cut. It’s not even the KSA ownership that bugs me (hello, it’s not like EA wasn’t already operating under an oppressive regime or have USAins not been paying attention to the news?) but the fact that workers will be left bearing the brunt of both layoffs AND cost-cutting measures as more people boycott the game.
Reply to NoCC All the Time
Thank you, the double standard I see in the community is unbelievable
When are they going to give everyone their money back since this buyout happened
This is why Caribbean foods, Caribbean-inspired world, and reggae station will never make it to The Sims 4 due to EA being private, ever. It’s time for me to move onto Project X, and I don’t give a s**t.
Reply to Jeremia Lecato
did you hit your head?
The Sims and Project X are both still owned by EA. If you genuinely think the *buyout* is what prevented The Sims from getting Caribbean content, what in all worlds makes you think that Project X–developed mostly *after* the buyout, mind you!–will be any different?
The meaning of these EA articles :
– The Biggest “Tell”, Silver Lake’s Push for AI : Labor cost reduction.
– The EA Sports Executive Takeover : The Sims and other games will now be run through the strict, high-margin, live-service operational lens of EA Sports.
– The “Long-Term Capital” Illusion : The “bold investments” they speak of will be strictly targeted at high-margin digital storefronts, automated tech platforms, and global esports expansion in Saudi Arabia.
Welcome to Sims Community!
Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space.
In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience. Simply put, keep it civil.
Your post will/might be rejected if it contains:
User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice:
So, how can you be a power user?
Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please note that we're aware of certain issues with Sign In / Log In and Create Account / Email Confirmation issues. We're working behind-the-scenes on a new Account Creation process. Thank you for your patience and remember - freedom of speech is not freedom of reach