Saudi Crown Prince MBS is so determined to make his country the global hub of esports and gaming
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has made gaming one of the cornerstones of his effort to transform Saudi Arabia’s economy, and now that vision has taken a historic leap. Electronic Arts, the publisher behind some of the most iconic gaming franchises, has agreed to a $55 billion all-cash deal that will take the company private under the leadership of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and its partners.
The agreement, the largest sponsor-led all-cash take-private ever seen in technology and entertainment, gives shareholders $210 per share while EA remains headquartered in Redwood City, California, with Andrew Wilson continuing as chief executive. For the Crown Prince, the acquisition is both a business decision and a statement that Saudi Arabia intends to sit at the very center of the global gaming industry.
The consortium behind the deal is structured to ensure Saudi influence is decisive. The Public Investment Fund, already a 9.9% shareholder in EA, will roll over its existing stake and take a leading role alongside Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. Roughly $20 billion in debt financing from JPMorgan Chase completes the structure, as reported by Kotaku. EA expects the deal to close in the first half of fiscal 2027 once shareholders and regulators give approval. In scale and timing, the transaction mirrors Mohammed bin Salman’s stated goal of making Saudi Arabia the ultimate global hub for gaming and esports by 2030.
Electronic Arts brings assets that match perfectly with the Crown Prince’s ambitions. Franchises like EA Sports FC, Madden, Apex Legends, The Sims, and F1 provide dependable recurring revenue through annual releases, licensing agreements, and live service engagement such as Ultimate Team and season passes. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in live sports, from Formula One in Jeddah to major boxing events and high-profile football friendlies. EA’s sports catalog allows the Kingdom to extend its presence into the digital space, blending real-world sporting influence with virtual experiences on a global scale.
The structure of EA’s business also aligns with the data-driven approach that Saudi Arabia has emphasized in its recent acquisitions. Scopely, acquired by Savvy Games Group, became one of mobile gaming’s fastest revenue generators through live operations and constant engagement. EA offers a broader platform where similar strategies can be applied. With artificial intelligence expected to revolutionize everything from asset creation to player personalization, Mohammed bin Salman views EA as a launchpad to test and scale innovation across a worldwide audience.
The acquisition is part of a much larger national framework. Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched in 2022, set targets for 2030 that include 39,000 jobs, over 13 billion dollars in GDP contribution, and 250 new gaming companies. Savvy Games Group, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, pledged $38 billion for acquisitions and strategic investments. The Kingdom has already built an ecosystem that includes ESL FACEIT Group to anchor esports platforms, Nine66 to nurture new studios, VOV Gaming to manage venues, and Steer Studios to develop games. Riyadh now hosts the annual Esports World Cup and has secured the first Olympic Esports Games in 2027, while the Qiddiya Gaming and Esports District is under construction to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure.
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