Following its participation in a buyout of EA worth an estimated $55 billion, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) may pull back on some future investments due to low funds. The PIF's issues came to light just weeks after it participated in the controversial EA buyout.
In late September 2025, EA confirmed that it would be going private on the stock market following a $55 billion buyout by an investor consortium that included the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The PIF in particular is led by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. As part of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to make its economy less reliant on fossil fuel profits, the PIF has previously purchased stakes in major gaming companies like Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, and Take-Two Interactive. Following the deal, EA stated that it would continue to have Andrew Wilson serve in his current capacity as the studio's CEO, and that its main headquarters would stay in Redwood City, California.
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Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is Reportedly Running Low on Money After EA Buyout
Weeks after EA stated that it would retain creative control following the $55 billion deal, the aftermath has apparently taken a toll on the PIF's funds. According to 11 people that were briefed on the PIF's current operations, the fund may not invest as much money into other projects due to the financial distress that some of its current investments are enduring. One of the key pain points for the PIF is in Neom, a ski resort on the Northern tip of Saudi Arabia that was planned to use robotic workers. Additional investments that have not panned out so far include a cruise line with one ship, and an electric vehicle start-up company. The PIF is reportedly reshuffling Neom's operations after Prince Mohammed fired one of Neom's former project leaders.
However, the PIF has stated that its participation in the EA buyout was a long-term investment that may double in value over time, though it is unclear how long that would take. This is not the first time that the PIF has had to tighten its belt when it came to investments. In November 2024, the PIF reduced its shares in Nintendo from 7.5% to 6.3%, despite previously stating that it would consider increasing its stake in the gaming giant.
Along with the PIF's investment troubles, the EA buyout drew attention from the US government, who called the deal a potential national security risk. Given that Prince Mohammed is an avid gamer, it remains to be seen if the PIF's part in the EA buyout will be affected by the reinvestment measures.
Source: The New York Times