Saudi Arabia’s $55 B EA Sports Acquisition: The Game Just Got Real


Saudi Arabia has just made one of the boldest moves in global entertainment history — the $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA), publisher of global gaming franchises like FIFA (EA Sports FC), Battlefield, and The Sims.


The deal — led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in partnership with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners — is not just a buyout. It’s a statement.

A declaration that the Kingdom intends to be a global power in the gaming and digital entertainment economy.


A Strategic Power Play — A Vision for the Future

This landmark acquisition is a natural extension of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 — a bold roadmap to diversify the economy, empower the youth, and position the Kingdom as a global hub for innovation and digital entertainment.


With nearly 75% of the population under the age of 35, and two-thirds identifying as active gamers, Saudi Arabia isn’t just investing in gaming — it’s investing in its people, its creativity, and its future.


This move reflects a forward-thinking strategy: to transform passion into opportunity, technology into growth, and entertainment into a new global industry built from the Kingdom outward.


💰 Building a $38 Billion Gaming Future

This isn’t an isolated move — it’s part of a coordinated national strategy to build a world-class gaming and esports ecosystem.


Over the past 24 months, Saudi Arabia has taken bold steps to make gaming a pillar of its digital economy:

✅ RTS acquired by Qiddiya, embedding esports infrastructure into the Kingdom’s flagship entertainment capital.

✅ STC partnered with the Esports World Cup Foundation to nurture Saudi digital talent and empower the next generation of gamers.

✅ Huawei piloting AI-driven 5G networks with stc to deliver ultra-low latency and enhanced gaming performance.

✅ Ericsson launched Blink Lab with KACST, advancing R&D in edge computing, immersive gaming, and next-gen connectivity.

✅ Merak Capital teamed up with Microsoft and the Ministry of Investment to fund, mentor, and scale Saudi gaming startups.

✅ Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Mirage introduced an expansion set in AlUla, bringing Saudi heritage and history to global audiences.


Together, these initiatives demonstrate how industrial policy and creative ambition converge — a long-term investment in innovation, youth & employment.


Why EA Makes Sense

EA’s partnership with a sovereign-scale investor brings more than capital — it brings long-term vision. Freed from short-term market pressures, EA can now reimagine its future, expand into new IPs and esports, and align with the Middle East’s fast-growing gaming ecosystem.


This isn’t just a revival of a gaming giant —

it’s the next level in the global game of innovation and interactive entertainment.