Video game maker EA bought by Saudi-led group for $55bn

As a private company, EA will no longer be required to publish quarterly financial results, although analysts say such deals are often followed by cost-cutting measures, and the company has already reduced its workforce in recent years.

Saudi Arabia has expanded its investments in gaming and esports in recent years as part of a broader push into entertainment and technology, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has publicly spoken about his interest in video games.

Electronic Arts, the publisher behind franchises including The Sims, Battlefield and EA Sports FC, has been acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and a consortium of investors in a deal valued at $55bn (£41bn).