The European Commission has given its approval to a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA), stating that the deal "would not raise competition concerns"

The European Commission has granted approval for the $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts by a group headed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

This decision, made under the EU Merger Regulation, highlighted no substantial competition issues arising from the acquisition. The examination followed the standard merger review protocol.

The Commission's merger assessment involves evaluating if a merger might hinder effective competition within the EU. Mergers that do not threaten competition are approved without conditions, whereas those posing concerns may be blocked unless remedies are proposed by the involved parties.

Conditions that might lead to a prohibition include scenarios where the merging entities are significant competitors, or if such a merger would create or bolster a dominant market entity.

In September 2025, a coalition led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which includes Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, with JPMorgan providing over $20 billion in debt financing, extended an offer for EA.

Following the announcement of the acquisition, Electronic Arts reassured its community that it would retain "creative control" and "creative freedom" within the consortium spearheaded by the PIF.

The company stated the consortium supports its vision and commitment to delivering diverse gaming experiences to a global audience.

Electronic Arts' shareholders have shown endorsement for the deal, although it still requires regulatory assessments to proceed. Once finalized, it is poised to become the most significant leveraged buyout recorded.

In October last year, the president of the Communication Workers of America, Claude Cummings Jr., advocated for a detailed investigation into the acquisition by the FTC and CFIUS, expressing concerns over the stability of the U.S. gaming industry.

This year, U.S. lawmakers urged the FTC to conduct a comprehensive review of the deal, citing the potential risks to workers due to Electronic Arts' influence in the U.S. video game labor market.

They emphasized the importance of understanding labor market impact, potential layoffs, and other critical aspects that could arise post-transaction, ensuring workers operate in a fair market that appreciates their skills.