Regulators’ rulings are still pending and no final confirmation has been issued by involved parties as the story develops.

The European Union is poised to approve a $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts by a Saudi-backed consortium led by the Public Investment Fund, Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake, with initial reports dating back to September 2025.

The deal has been under consideration since at least September 2025, with major shareholders including the Saudi PIF, Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake, and ongoing media coverage and public comment processes.

Upon completion, the buyers would hold about a 94.3% controlling stake in EA Games after shareholder approvals in December and a public announcement from the prior year.

Labor and national security concerns have been raised by groups like CWA Canada, urging Canadian authorities to scrutinize potential impacts on EA’s Canadian studios and data access.

Regulatory history for large cross-border deals is relevant, with attention to potential effects on staff and game direction if ownership changes hands, drawing comparisons to past Microsoft-Activision cases.

Europe’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation enables the EU to scrutinize non-EU government contributions and may require remedies or even block the deal if distortive effects are found.

Earlier cases involving ADNOC and e& were ultimately cleared after remedies or investigations, suggesting possible paths for this deal too.

The transaction mirrors a broader shift as the region builds a diversified, globally influential investment footprint in technology and entertainment.

Key milestones include the Foreign Subsidies Regulation review ending around late July and a merger review window finishing in late July, framing the processing timeline.

Previous Middle East-led deals faced longer investigations and remedies, signaling potential regulatory scrutiny for this transaction despite similar expectations.

Historical precedent shows Middle East-linked deals often undergo extended scrutiny, underscoring regulatory caution around cross-border acquisitions.