Electronic Arts, one of the biggest publishers in the gaming industry, recently announced that it is going private. The gaming giant is being acquired by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners for $55 billion.
The shareholders will get $210 for each share they had purchased. The publisher went for this acquisition mainly because of the $20 billion debt.
Electronic Arts Inc., a global leader in interactive entertainment, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners in an all-cash transaction that values EA at an enterprise value of approximately $55 billion.
-Electrnoic Arts
The deal has yet to be closed, as it is expected to be done by the first quarter of 2027. This deal has started a massive controversy, and the company is getting immense backlash. That is mainly because some extreme cost-cutting can be followed by this acquisition.
Take-Two Becomes The Largest Independent Publisher
With the company going private, the question now is: which independent publishers sit at the top of the industry? The crown currently belongs to Take-Two. It is the only major publisher without any acquisition or merger deals on the table.
Electronic Arts is going private, and other companies often labeled as “independent” no longer fit that definition. That is because they have various corporate ties or ownership structures.
If you’re confused, let me explain why Take-Two now takes the throne as the leading independent game publisher. Ubisoft no longer remains independent following its acquisition by Tencent. While Tencent didn’t acquire the entire company, it did gain shares and invested over €1 billion into a new Ubisoft subsidiary. This new branch will now manage Ubisoft’s biggest franchises, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.
Activision Blizzard is already off the table, having been acquired by Microsoft. Almost every other major publisher has been absorbed by a tech or media giant. So, that only leaves behind Take-Two, which holds all the rights to its major IPs like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, NBA 2K, Borderlands, and BioShock.
This shows that acquisitions in the gaming industry have become way too common. In some cases, these acquisitions can bring stability and resources. However, they also raise concerns about creativity, competition, and the loss of truly independent voices in gaming.
Now, as EA is going private, some people may fear losing their jobs. We are not aware of what changes are set to take place, but they don’t seem positive. So, an acquisition can’t always be a positive thing.
Take-Two Is Set To Surprise The Whole World In 2026
While we have established the argument that Take-Two is the biggest independent publisher, let’s not forget that GTA 6 is set to release on May 26, 2026. It’s poised to be the biggest release in the company’s history. Due to that, it is expected to generate record-breaking profits for the publisher.
GTA 6 is expected to sell 20 million copies within just 24 hours of its release. The precedent it sets may be unmatched by anyone other than Rockstar itself.
Obaid Ur Rehman is a lifelong gaming enthusiast with a deep passion for writing about video games. While he enjoys all genres, he specializes in RPGs and Soulslike titles. After tackling some of the toughest bosses, he often unwinds with a cozy game to relax. Outside of gaming, Obaid enjoys watching anime, bingeing TV series, or staying active at the gym.
