Vivek recalls being ‘thrown out of films’ after Salman controversy
**Gamemaker EA Might Be Sold for $50 Billion Next Week**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | Sep 27, 2025, 10:12 AM*
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**What’s the Story?**
Electronic Arts (EA), the renowned video game publisher behind major franchises like FIFA and Battlefield, is reportedly in advanced talks for a private acquisition. The deal, potentially set to be announced as early as next week, is valued at approximately $50 billion.
A consortium of investors—including private equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners—is said to be involved in these discussions.
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**Historic Deal: Potential Record-Breaking Leveraged Buyout**
If finalized, this transaction would mark the largest leveraged buyout in history. A leveraged buyout (LBO) is a financial maneuver where the acquiring party uses borrowed funds to purchase a company.
Following reports of EA’s potential sale, its shares surged over 15% on Friday afternoon, signaling strong market interest.
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**Industry Context**
The gaming industry has been grappling with rising development costs and intense competition, all while striving to meet high fan expectations amid declining consumer discretionary spending.
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**Market Outlook: EA’s Valuation and Upcoming Game Releases**
Currently, EA boasts a market valuation exceeding $42 billion. Although the company projected quarterly net bookings below Wall Street expectations in July, it is pinning hopes on the launch of *Battlefield 6*—the latest installment in its popular shooter series—to boost sales.
Slated for release within EA’s current fiscal year, *Battlefield 6* is expected to sell millions of copies and compete directly with Activision Blizzard’s *Call of Duty* franchise.
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**Investor Profiles: Consortium Details**
– **Silver Lake:** A leading tech-focused private equity firm known for major buyouts, including its recent $4.46 billion majority stake acquisition in Intel’s Altera.
– **Public Investment Fund (PIF):** Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, part of the “Vision 2030” strategy, has been diversifying beyond oil with significant investments in gaming and sports sectors.
– **Affinity Partners:** Founded by Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, this firm has investments sourced from funds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
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This landmark deal, should it go through, could reshape the video game industry landscape and set new precedents in large-scale leveraged buyouts.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/vivek-oberoi-recalls-losing-films-after-fight-with-salman/story
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