Electronic Arts, known for FC (formerly FIFA), Madden NFL, and The Sims, saw its stock jump nearly 15% to $193.35 after the news|EA Sports FC 25
Videogame giant Electronic Arts (EA) is in advanced talks to go private in a deal that could reach $50 billion, potentially becoming the largest leveraged buyout ever.
Investors in the deal may include private-equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, with an announcement possible as soon as next week.
EA, known for its franchises such as FC (formerly FIFA), Madden NFL, and The Sims, saw its stock jump nearly 15% to $193.35 after the news, valuing the company at around $48 billion.
The deal reflects a shift in large buyouts, with sovereign wealth funds replacing some private equity groups and carrying less debt than pre-2008 deals.
The discussions follow EA’s rebound after early 2025 struggles, including the underperformance of EA Sports FC 25.
The company cited “better-than-expected contributions” across its portfolio in its recent earnings call. EA plans to release Battlefield 6 on October 10, competing with Microsoft’s Call of Duty.
Earlier this year, EA conducted its third mass layoff since 2023 amid industry-wide sluggish growth and tens of thousands of job cuts since the pandemic.