We at NerdLeaks are following a major corporate development in the games business that, if true, would reshape one of the industry's largest publishers. According to VGC — which cites Reuters — a new report indicates the European Union is set to grant approval to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund for the acquisition of Electronic Arts. Take this with a pinch of salt, but here’s everything we can verify from the reporting and what it might mean.
What Was Reported
According to VGC, the report says the EU is poised to approve the deal that was announced publicly in September 2025. That announcement detailed a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund alongside Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and private equity firm Silver Lake.
The reported terms in that original announcement valued a 93.4% stake in EA at $55 billion. EA shareholders approved the acquisition in December 2025, per the reporting. The new VGC/Reuters account adds that the European Union is now expected to grant regulatory approval on top of those prior steps.
The coverage also reiterates a broader picture of Saudi investment activity in games. The report highlights several past moves: in April 2022 the Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC) reportedly purchased a 96% stake in SNK; in September 2025 the Saudi-owned firm Qiddiya acquired RTS, a co-owner of the Evolution Championship Series; and in March 2026 the EGDC acquired a 5% stake in Capcom. Finally, the piece notes that the PIF was reportedly running low on cash after the EA acquisition.
The Source & Credibility
How The Report Was Sourced
We should be clear about sourcing. VGC is the outlet reporting this development for the gaming press, and the piece explicitly cites Reuters as the underlying source for the claim that the EU approval is imminent. That chain of reporting is the basis for the statements above.
That said, this is a developing story and we are treating it with caution. The phrasing in the report is not definitive language like “approved” but rather that the EU is “set to” or “set to grant” approval — language that signals a close-to-final outcome but leaves room for last-minute changes. As always, take this with a pinch of salt until regulators or the companies involved make formal confirmations.
What It Could Mean
Potential Industry Effects
If the EU does grant approval as reported, that would represent a major regulatory milestone for the deal announced in September 2025 and approved by shareholders in December 2025. A completed acquisition of this scale — a reported 93.4% stake valued at $55 billion — would consolidate ownership of Electronic Arts under a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund, alongside Affinity Partners and Silver Lake.
For the investment picture, the report’s reminder of Saudi activity in the sector — from the EGDC’s stake in SNK to Qiddiya buying RTS and the EGDC’s 5% stake in Capcom — paints a pattern of aggressive portfolio building. The claim that the PIF was reportedly running low on cash after the EA acquisition could, if accurate, affect the pace of any further investments from these parties.
For Developers And Events
The report explicitly links prior Saudi-backed moves to everything from studio stakes to event ownership, noting that RTS is co-owner of the Evolution Championship Series. If the EU approval clears the EA deal, it would join the list of high-profile transactions involving Saudi entities that the report references.
Why This Matters
This story matters for a few reasons. First, an EU sign-off would remove a significant regulatory obstacle for a gigantic, reported transaction — a 93.4% stake valued at $55 billion — that has already won shareholder approval, per the reporting. Second, the broader pattern of reported Saudi investments in the games space — from SNK to Capcom and event ownership via RTS — suggests the deal would be part of a deliberate strategy to build gaming assets.
Finally, the report’s claim that the PIF was reportedly running low on cash after the EA acquisition introduces a potential variable for the future of this investment spree. If true, that could slow further purchases. If not, the acquisition could mark another watershed moment in how major publishers are owned and financed. We’re watching this one closely and will update as more concrete confirmations emerge.
