One Of EA’s Co-Buyers May Be Low On Cash

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After helping to acquire EA in a deal worth around $55 billion, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) might reduce its future investments because it’s running low on money. These financial concerns emerged shortly after the PIF’s involvement in the often-debated EA purchase.

In late September 2025, Electronic Arts (EA) announced it would be taken private in a $55 billion deal. A group of investors, including the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, will be acquiring the company. The PIF, led by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been investing in other major gaming companies like Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, and Take-Two Interactive as part of Saudi Arabia’s plan to diversify its economy away from oil. After the acquisition, EA plans to keep Andrew Wilson as CEO and maintain its headquarters in Redwood City, California.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is Reportedly Running Low on Money After EA Buyout

Following the $55 billion deal, it appears the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is facing financial challenges. Sources familiar with the PIF’s operations say the fund may have to reduce investments in other projects because some of its current ones are struggling financially. A major concern is the Neom ski resort project in Saudi Arabia, which relies on robotic construction, as well as underperforming investments in a small cruise line and an electric vehicle startup. Reports indicate that Prince Mohammed has recently restructured Neom’s leadership in response to these issues.

So, the Public Investment Fund, the folks who put money into EA, are saying this was a long-term play – they’re hoping it’ll eventually be worth twice what they paid for it, though they don’t have a timeline on that. Honestly, this isn’t the first time they’ve had to re-evaluate things. Back in November 2024, they actually sold some of their Nintendo stock, dropping from 7.5% ownership down to 6.3%, even after saying they were thinking about buying more Nintendo shares. It’s a bit of a confusing move, but it shows they’re watching their investments closely.

In addition to financial difficulties with the PIF, the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) has raised concerns with the US government, which views it as a possible threat to national security. It’s unclear whether Prince Mohammed’s personal interest in gaming will influence how the PIF’s involvement in the EA deal is handled as the fund undergoes restructuring.

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2025-11-26 00:04