The $55 Billion Deal to Take EA Private

This episode of The Journal explores the potential acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by a group of investors, including Silver Lake, Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, in what could be the largest leveraged buyout ever. The podcast examines EA's history, its complicated relationship with gamers due to monetization strategies like loot boxes, and its recent financial performance. It further investigates the motivations behind the acquisition, particularly Saudi Arabia's desire to diversify its investments and establish a global gaming presence, and the potential implications of the deal for gamers, including concerns about increased pressure to monetize games.