Electronic Arts has announced Monday, 29 September, that it is being acquired by a group including the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) for a fee in the region of $55 billion. What does that mean for the company’s esports properties?
EA is one of the largest gaming publishers in the world, with franchises such as EA SPORTS FC (formerly FIFA), Madden NFL, College Football, Apex Legends, and the Formula 1 racing games, among others, under its banner.
EA Confirms PIF Acquisition
This is one of the biggest gaming acquisitions in history. Image Credit: EA
Following some speculation in the days prior, EA confirmed reports that it was being acquired by a group consisting of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business,” said Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA, in his statement. “This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work. Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”
What Does This Mean for EA’s Esports Properties?
EA’s esports titles could benefit from this acquisition. Image Credit: EA SPORTS
At the time of writing, it’s unclear what exactly all this means for the future of EA’s esports offering. While Esports.net awaits a response from EA to its request for comment, there are reasons to feel positive about this acquisition.
Esports has played a key role in the plans of the PIF, with the likes of the Esports World Cup bringing the best in the world to Riyadh, where millions of dollars are on the line. Additionally, the upcoming Esports Nations Cup is scheduled to commence in 2026.
For that reason, many would assume that this acquisition could signal further development plans for EA’s esports titles from the PIF, as they seek to incorporate the games even more into their digital growth plans.
EA is one of the founding partners of the Esports Nations Cup, announced in August alongside Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft.