Electronic Arts has officially completed its $55 billion acquisition, ending the company’s long run as a publicly traded business. As of August 4, EA is now privately owned after the deal was finalized by a group of investors known as The Consortium.

EA has been part of the gaming industry since 1982 and became a public company in 1989. That era has now come to an end following the acquisition by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The deal was first announced in 2025, and August 4 was previously reported as the expected closing date.

With the transaction now complete, EA shares will no longer be traded on the stock market. Existing shareholders will receive $210 for each share of EA common stock they owned when the acquisition officially closed.

The $55 billion purchase is being described as the largest leveraged buyout in history. The deal also adds around $20 billion to EA's overall debt, making it one of the biggest financial moves ever seen in the video game industry. The companies involved in the acquisition have presented the deal as a long-term investment in EA and its future.

In statements following the completion, members of The Consortium talked about plans for continued growth, innovation, and investment in new technology. Artificial intelligence was also mentioned as an area that could be used to improve game development and the experience for players.

However, the acquisition has not been without controversy. Some EA fans have been worried about what private ownership could mean for the company's biggest franchises. The Sims 4 community has been particularly concerned, with some players questioning whether the game's inclusive themes and policies could change under its new ownership.

Those concerns are partly connected to the fact that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is now the majority owner of EA. Some players have questioned whether the fund's involvement could influence the direction of EA's games or the way certain franchises are handled. EA has attempted to reassure fans during the process, but concerns have remained.

The deal also faced opposition outside the gaming community. US lawmakers called for the Federal Trade Commission to examine the acquisition, while Representative Maxwell Frost took part in a livestream with former EA creator Lilsimsie to speak against the deal. A protest was also held outside EA's headquarters.

Despite those efforts, the acquisition moved forward and has now officially been completed.EA's privatization comes during a particularly unstable period for the wider gaming industry.

Major publishers and platform holders have been making significant changes, while thousands of workers have lost their jobs. Microsoft has gone through several rounds of restructuring at Xbox, with around 1,600 positions eliminated earlier in 2026 and additional cuts expected before the end of fiscal year 2027.

Sony has also faced widespread layoffs and studio closures in recent years, showing that EA is far from the only major company undergoing major changes.

For now, the biggest question is what private ownership will mean for EA's games and its long-term strategy. The company has promised continued investment and growth, but players will ultimately be watching its upcoming decisions closely. With EA no longer answering to public shareholders, the company has entered a very different chapter in its history.