EA reportedly exploring $50 billion deal to go private

Electronic Arts (EA), the American video game company best known for its sports franchises such as EA Sports FC (Formerly FIFA) and Madden NFL, is reportedly in advanced talks to go private at a $50 billion valuation, in what could be the industry's largest leveraged buyout. 

The Wall Street Journal is reporting EA is in advanced talks with private equity firm Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). EA's shares have surged more than 14% as the news broke.

CNBC reports that if it goes through, the deal could be the largest leveraged buyout in Wall Street history, surpassing TXU Energy's private takeover for $45 billion in 2007. Not much is known about the deal other than the parties are in advanced talks, and it could be finalized as soon as next week. 

A leveraged buyout is an agreement to acquire a company based on significant debt, with the host company's assets and cash flows serving as a guarantee. 

Founded in 1982 by former Apple employee Trip Hawkins, EA has surged to become one of the biggest companies in the video game industry. Besides its popular sports franchises, it's known for original and well-received IPs such as Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Apex Legends, Dead Space, and Star Wars. 

EA also owns and operates gaming studios under its brand, like BioWare, Criterion Games, DICE, Motive, Respawn Entertainment, PopCap Games, Codemasters, and more. Its most recent acquisition was TRACAB Technologies, a sports tracking and analysis firm it absorbed in February 2025.