The Journal. The $55 Billion Deal to Take EA Private
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Oct 3, 2025 A group of investors is making headlines with a historic $55 billion buyout of Electronic Arts. The podcast dives into EA's rise to fame and the issues it faced, from the backlash over loot boxes to its reputation problems. It explores the motivations behind the Saudi Public Investment Fund's interest in EA and Jared Kushner's pivotal role in securing funding. The discussion also highlights the implications of EA going private, raising concerns about potential monetization pressures on gamers. Tune in for an intriguing look at this monumental deal!
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Franchises Power EA's Value
- Electronic Arts built massive value through enduring franchises like Madden, FIFA, and Star Wars licenses.
- Those intellectual-property backbones keep gamers buying despite repeated reputational issues.
Battlefront II Backlash Became Infamous
- The 2017 Star Wars Battlefront II launch sparked huge backlash over pay-to-win mechanics and loot boxes.
- EA's corporate Reddit reply became the most downvoted comment in Reddit history, deepening gamer anger.
Reputation Versus Market Value
- EA's reputation soured due to studio closures, buggy launches, and heavy monetization.
- Despite that, its market value multiplied roughly sevenfold since 2013 as investors focused on profitability.