Electronic Arts completes $55bn acquisition; CEO announces senior leadership changes

Electronic Arts has closed its $55 billion leveraged buyout, ending its run as a public company and moving majority control to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Existing stockholders will receive $210 per share in cash, and EA will be delisted from NASDAQ as the transaction completes.

The leadership shuffle is immediate and significant for anyone watching how EA’s internal structure will evolve. CEO Andrew Wilson has appointed Cam Weber as chief studios officer and David Tinson as chief operating officer, with both also taking on company president titles. That suggests a tighter executive layer around studio operations, production execution, and business coordination as EA enters private ownership.

The deal was first announced on September 29 and was backed by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Shareholders approved it in December, and regulatory approvals were cleared last week on July 31. PIF has been building toward this for years, including buying more than $3 billion in EA stock in 2021 and increasing its stake by 55% in 2023.

For developers, the practical question is how private ownership changes EA’s appetite for long-term bets, studio autonomy, and investment in tools and technology. The consortium has already signaled interest in AI-driven development and player experience improvements, while Wilson is framing the transition as a push for “bold creativity” and stronger execution across EA’s portfolio.