EA’s $55 Billion Take-Private Deal Set to Close Monday as Xbox Hikes Prices and PS5 Tops 95 Million Sold
Here is the latest on EA take-private deal closing. Electronic Arts said all regulatory approvals for its roughly $55 billion take-private acquisition by a Saudi Public Investment Fund-led consortium have been cleared. In fact, with the deal expected to close on or about August 4, 2026. According to an SEC filing reported by Game Developer. The milestone caps the largest leveraged buyout in history and lands in the same week Microsoft raised Xbox hardware prices by as much as 50% in the UK and Europe and Sony confirmed PlayStation 5 sales have topped 95 million units worldwide.
Key Facts
- EA’s roughly $55 billion take-private deal — the largest leveraged buyout on record — is expected to close on or about August 4, 2026, after clearing all U.S. and European regulatory approvals, according to Game Developer.
- The buying consortium is led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (93.4% stake), alongside Silver Lake Partners (5.5%) and Affinity Partners, the investment firm run by Jared Kushner (1.1%), per Wikipedia’s summary of the deal’s ownership structure.
- Microsoft raised Xbox Series S and Series X prices by up to 50% in the UK and Europe, citing component shortages tied to “widespread investment in AI data centers,” according to Game Developer.
- Sony confirmed PlayStation 5 sales have surpassed 95 million units worldwide as of June 2026, even as hardware and software sales growth has slowed roughly six years into the console’s life cycle, per Game Developer.
- Rockstar Games is reportedly planning a major “GTA 6” news drop in August 2026, potentially including new gameplay footage or a third trailer, ahead of the game’s locked-in November 2026 launch, according to GameNGuide and other outlets.
- Refactor Games, developer of a FIFA World Cup 2026 title for Netflix, was shut down by parent company Delphi Interactive, Game Developer reported August 3. This detail matters for anyone following EA take-private deal closing.
EA’s Historic Buyout Nears the Finish Line (EA take-private deal closing)
The video game industry’s biggest ownership shakeup in years is about to become official. Electronic Arts, the publisher behind franchises like Madden NFL, EA Sports FC and Battlefield. Also, confirmed in an SEC filing that it has cleared every regulatory hurdle standing in the way of its take-private acquisition. With the deal expected to close on or about the close of trading on August 4. 2026, according to Game Developer’s reporting on the filing. This detail matters for anyone following EA take-private deal closing.
The buyout, valued at approximately $55 billion. Meanwhile, is being financed largely through $20 billion in debt from JPMorgan Chase and is led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This will hold a controlling 93.4% stake once the deal closes. Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners — the investment firm led by Jared Kushner — round out the consortium with smaller stakes of 5.5% and 1.1%. Respectively, according to background compiled on Wikipedia. EA shareholders approved the transaction in December 2025. For now, and the European Commission cleared the merger under EU regulations before U.S. approval followed this summer. This detail matters for anyone following EA take-private deal closing.
If it closes as expected, the deal would surpass the $32 billion buyout of TXU Energy in 2007 to become the largest leveraged buyout ever completed, in any industry. EA has framed the transaction as a way to “accelerate innovation and growth to build the future of entertainment,” while critics — including labor unions and some U.S. As a result, senators — have raised concerns about foreign ownership of a major American entertainment company. Potential content restrictions and the risk of further layoffs once new ownership takes over. This detail matters for anyone following EA take-private deal closing.
Xbox Hardware Gets Sharply More Expensive in Europe (EA take-private deal closing)
The EA news arrived in the same week Microsoft confirmed steep Xbox price increases across the UK and continental Europe. According to Game Developer, the 512GB Xbox Series S rose from €349.99 to €499.99 in the eurozone and from £299.99 to £429.99 in the UK. Meanwhile, the top-tier 1TB Xbox Series X with a disc drive climbed from €599.99 to €799.99 in Europe and from £499.99 to £669.99 in Britain. Across the various Series S and Series X configurations. Microsoft’s increases amount to as much as 50% more for select hardware, depending on storage and disc-drive options. This detail matters for anyone following EA take-private deal closing.
Microsoft attributed the increases to component shortages driven by “widespread investment in AI data centers,” according to Game Developer. In fact, echoing a rationale other electronics manufacturers have cited amid competition for chips and memory being redirected toward AI infrastructure buildouts. The price hikes follow a year in which Xbox’s hardware business has already struggled: Game Developer separately reported that Xbox hardware revenue fell by $1.7 billion during fiscal year 2026. Part of a broader reset under Xbox leadership as the division looks to redefine its strategy heading into the back half of the year. This detail matters for anyone following EA take-private deal closing.
PlayStation 5 Crosses 95 Million Units, But Growth Is Cooling (EA take-private deal closing)
Sony, meanwhile, delivered a milestone of its own: the PlayStation 5 has now sold more than 95 million units worldwide as of June 2026. Also, according to Game Developer’s report on the company’s most recent figures. The number cements the PS5 as one of the best-selling consoles of its generation. Though Sony’s own disclosures point to a maturing product line. The company’s Games & Network Services segment posted essentially flat year-over-year sales in its first fiscal quarter. Driven by softer console hardware and third-party software sales roughly six years into the PS5’s life cycle. Meanwhile, this detail matters for anyone following EA take-private deal closing.
Sony said monthly active users reached 125 million accounts in June 2026. Up 2% year-over-year, even as total playtime dipped 4% over the same period. Digital purchases continue to dominate software sales. Accounting for 82% of the 66.1 million PS4 and PS5 software units sold in the period. For now, sony reiterated that “there is no change to our plan for hardware profitability for FY26 to remain similar to FY25.”
GTA 6 Anticipation Builds Ahead of a Possible August Reveal
Away from the corporate and hardware headlines. The industry’s most-anticipated release continues to generate speculation. Rockstar Games’ “Grand Theft Auto VI” has a release date locked in for November 2026. And multiple outlets — including GameNGuide, Vice and BusinessToday — report that industry insiders expect a significant marketing push in August. As a result, potentially including new gameplay footage, a third trailer or details on game editions. The last official trailer for the game arrived in May 2025. And pre-orders are already available, though Rockstar has not confirmed specific plans for an August reveal.
Analysts have pointed to the overlapping timing of Gamescom and Take-Two Interactive’s (Rockstar’s parent company) earnings call, both occurring in August. As plausible windows for new “GTA 6” announcements. Still, given how central the game has become to Take-Two’s financial outlook after previous delays rattled investor confidence. Industry newsletter GIES Weekly and market-research outlet Luminate have both flagged the game’s continual postponements as a major reason for the unusually thin slate of major releases the industry has faced through the middle of 2026.
A Turbulent Stretch for the Industry Overall
Taken together, the week’s news reflects an industry in the middle of significant structural change. Beyond the EA buyout, Ubisoft has announced a second round of restructuring that includes hundreds of job cuts. With some planned game remakes canceled or left without release dates and unions threatening strikes in response. According to industry coverage compiled by Luminate. Warner Bros. Games has also been scaling back as Netflix moves to acquire the studio. Meanwhile, smaller developers continue to feel the squeeze: Refactor Games, the studio behind a FIFA World Cup 2026 title being developed for Netflix. Was shut down entirely by parent company Delphi Interactive, Game Developer reported August 3.
Layoffs remain a persistent backdrop across the sector. With roughly 28% of developers reporting a lost job over the past two years, per surveys cited by Luminate. And January 2026 alone brought 500 cuts at mobile game company Playtika. Japanese publishers have stood out as relative bright spots: Capcom has posted strong results behind steady “Resident Evil” releases. Meanwhile, Nintendo has leaned on multimedia projects like the “Super Mario Galaxy” film to keep its franchises culturally prominent.
What to Watch Next
Meanwhile, with EA’s ownership change expected to become official within days. Attention will turn to how the newly private company reshapes its studio portfolio and release slate under its new Saudi-led ownership group — and whether the concerns raised by critics about layoffs or creative direction bear out. Xbox’s price increases and PS5’s slowing momentum both point to a console market entering a more cautious phase after years of post-launch growth.
Meanwhile, all eyes in the industry remain on Rockstar for any sign of the “GTA 6” marketing push insiders are expecting this month. With Gamescom and several corporate earnings calls also on the August calendar. For now, the next few weeks are likely to bring further clarity on how publishers plan to navigate a year already defined by consolidation. Cost-cutting and a thinner-than-usual release calendar.
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