One of gaming’s largest publishers has officially changed hands. Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion sale after months of regulatory approvals, bringing one of the industry’s biggest publishers under new ownership.
With the acquisition complete, attention has shifted to the group that now owns the company. As first reported by Kotaku, that includes Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner, whose private equity firm, Affinity Partners, is part of the investment group behind the acquisition.
In the announcement, Kushner described EA as a company that has “created stories, characters, and communities that have become part of everyday life for hundreds of millions of people.” He added, “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.”
Who now owns Electronic Arts?
The acquisition was completed by a consortium that includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Kotaku reports that, according to a report published late last year, Saudi Arabia owns 93 percent of EA through the PIF following the deal’s closing.
That makes the publisher behind franchises including Madden NFL, The Sims, Battlefield, and EA Sports FC a privately held company after decades as a publicly traded business.
Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF, said the fund already had “a deep understanding of EA’s unique platform, massive global sports and gaming franchises, and iconic IP” after being a minority investor for more than five years. He added that the consortium was “uniquely positioned to be a long-term partner to EA’s management team in driving sustained growth and innovation for EA and the industry.”
The ownership structure has also attracted attention because it brings together Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, private equity firm Silver Lake and Kushner’s Affinity Partners under the same acquisition.
The deal has also faced criticism outside the gaming industry. The report points to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, citing concerns raised by Amnesty International as well as the perceived tension between the country’s record and franchises such as The Sims, which has long been associated with LGBTQ+ representation.
Kotaku also points to concerns over what the ownership change could mean for EA itself. It also references earlier warnings about the company’s credit rating and speculation surrounding the future of studios such as BioWare. It also notes that Kushner’s Affinity Partners is the subject of an ongoing House Judiciary Committee investigation.
The acquisition also changes how much information EA will share publicly. With the publisher no longer publicly traded, regular earnings calls will end, making details about its business and financial performance far less accessible than before.
Readers reacting to the report were less focused on the financial details than on what the ownership change could mean for EA’s future. Some speculated about the company’s direction, while others questioned whether the new ownership would have any visible effect on its biggest franchises.
One commenter wrote, “Interesting to see what happens next. Do they just shelve all their non-sports IPs? Maybe release the occasional Star Wars game?” Another added, “Well I have been boycotting EA before it was cool.”
Others focused on the company’s future more broadly. One predicted, “Here come the layoffs!” while another joked, “Gross, I can only assume you’ll be seeing lots of Kalshi, Polymarket and Trump Crypto ads in your Madden games going forward.” So far, however, no changes to EA’s games, studios or day-to-day operations have been announced alongside the completed acquisition.
Silver Lake CEO and Managing Partner Egon Durban said the investment group intends to back the publisher’s future growth, describing EA’s franchises as “some of the most beloved in entertainment” and saying the consortium plans to “invest heavily in EA’s growth, including what AI can do to enhance game development and player experience.”
No immediate changes to EA’s games or studios have been announced alongside the completed acquisition. What has changed is the company’s ownership, with Kushner’s Affinity Partners now among the investors behind one of gaming’s biggest publishers.
Published: Aug 5, 2026 10:44 am