Overview
- News outlets reported on Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is considering merging Electronic Arts into its Savvy Games vehicle, though no final decision has been made.
- The move follows a PIF-led consortium’s roughly $55 billion buyout that took EA private in early August and would combine EA’s big franchises with Savvy’s mobile hits and esports holdings.
- Sources say the merger is unlikely to proceed until Savvy completes a pending $6 billion acquisition of Chinese mobile studio Moonton, and any deal would remain conditional.
- Competition authorities are likely to scrutinize the transaction closely given recent probes of large gaming deals, which could complicate or delay approval.
- EA staff have reported fears of layoffs and content oversight since the takeover, and Savvy’s CEO Brian Ward stepped down last week, raising questions about governance and morale.