Big Money Moves: EA Might Go Private with Saudi Backing

EA, the company behind popular games like FIFA, might be going private. A group of investors, including Saudi Arabia's PIF, are in serious talks to buy EA for about $50 billion. This deal could be the biggest of its kind ever. EA's stock prices jumped up by 15% on Friday when news of the potential deal came out. This shows that investors are excited about the possibility. The deal might be announced soon, possibly next week. Saudi Arabia's PIF has been investing in gaming companies for a while now. They already have stakes in other big names like Take-Two Interactive, Nintendo, and Ubisoft. The PIF is led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been criticized for human rights issues. Affinity Partners, another investor in the group, was founded by Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law. This adds another layer of interest to the deal. EA hasn't commented on the rumors yet. If the deal goes through, it will be a big change for the gaming industry. It's important to note that the PIF's involvement brings both financial muscle and political scrutiny.