Saudi-led group completes $55B purchase of gaming giant EA

A Saudi-led investment group, including the Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners (led by Jared Kushner), has completed a $55 billion acquisition of gaming giant Electronic Arts, taking the company private. The deal, considered the largest leveraged buyout in history, involves $20 billion in borrowed debt that EA will need to repay, raising concerns among analysts about potential mass layoffs and aggressive cost-cutting measures. The acquisition has also sparked controversy from advocacy groups and fans concerned about Saudi Arabia's human rights record, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ rights, given EA's inclusive game franchises like The Sims.