
Two U.S. senators have issued a formal letter regarding EA’s recent acquisition, raising alarms about potential national security threats posed by the deal. This acquisition has stirred significant discussion and concern within the industry since it was first rumored, and the company’s recent confirmation of the deal has drawn the attention of government officials.
In late September 2025, EA confirmed it would go private following a staggering $55 billion transaction — a record-setting leveraged buyout that extends beyond the gaming arena. If regulatory authorities give their approval, EA will be completely owned by a consortium of private investors, among them Silver Lake, Affinity Partners, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This isn’t the PIF’s inaugural investment in gaming; however, the level of scrutiny has increased dramatically due to its involvement in this substantial deal.
U.S. Senators Warn About National Security Risks of the EA Buyout
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, expressing deep concerns regarding foreign influence and associated national security implications of the EA transaction. The letter emphasizes that the PIF’s potential dominance over EA could enable it to exercise undue influence, particularly given the company’s fluctuating performance. Over the past year, EA has experienced notable financial setbacks, losing $6 billion in stock value just this January, indicating the acquisition may lean more towards manipulation of viewership rather than profitability.
The senators’ correspondence further underlines the security worries regarding the Saudi government possibly accessing sensitive data about EA’s extensive player base. Data privacy continues to be a critical issue in gaming, affecting various companies and stirring controversy, as evidenced this year when some users accused Borderlands games of not respecting their privacy rights.
As the discussions evolve, it remains uncertain how regulators will respond to these concerns and whether they will impact the next steps in the acquisition process. Notably, this buyout is far from the only contentious issue involving the Saudi government in gaming, as it continues to gain prominence as a significant investor in this sector.