Electronic Arts to close $55 billion buyout, go private by August 4

Electronic Arts said in a July 31, 2026, regulatory filing that its $55 billion go-private deal will close by August 4, 2026. All required approvals had been obtained as of July 30, clearing the way for the merger. EA expects the transaction to complete at the close of trading on August 4, roughly a month behind its original timeline.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners partnered on the buyout, the largest leveraged buyout ever. CEO Andrew Wilson will continue to lead the company, and its headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California.

Going private ends EA's 35-year run as a publicly traded company. The publisher, which posted revenue of $7.5 billion in 2025, has contended with layoffs, canceled games, studio closures, and the shelving of the Need for Speed franchise.

Battlefield 6, released in October 2025, provided a hit despite those headwinds. EA's portfolio also includes EA Sports, The Sims, Madden NFL, Titanfall, and EA Sports FC; its involvement with FIFA soccer terminated in 2023.

EA first disclosed the acquisition in 2025. Variety reviewed the 8-K filing.