Videogame maker Electronic Arts is nearing a deal to go private for as much as $50 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday citing people familiar with the matter. ...

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) rose 15% after a report that the video game maker is nearing a deal to go private. A group of investors, including private-equity firm Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, may announce a deal for Electronic Arts ( ...

Breaking: Videogame giant Electronic Arts is nearing a roughly $50 billion deal to go private in what would likely be the largest leveraged buyout of all time https://t.co/RyVt6tE55s ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors, including Silver Lake, are considering a deal that could potentially become the largest leveraged buyout in history [1] Group 1 - The involvement of prominent investors like Silver Lake indicates strong market interest and confidence in the potential deal [1] - The deal is expected to set a new record for leveraged buyouts, highlighting the increasing trend of such financial transactions in the current market environment [1]

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) invites players from around the globe to celebrate the world's game across platforms with the launch of EA SPORTS FCâ"¢ 26, available now for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switchâ"¢ and Nintendo Switch 2â"¢, as well as through EA Play. The FC 26 launch also coincides with the feature-packed EA SPORTS FCâ"¢ Mobile 26 Update and Anniversary Event, for fans to enjoy FC where. ...

Group 1 - Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) has received positive attention from analysts, with Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, expressing bullish sentiments about the stock, indicating it is set to move higher [1] - The Macquarie Large Cap Growth Fund highlighted that Electronic Arts was a significant detractor from performance due to not owning Meta Platforms and Eli Lilly & Co., as well as concerns regarding its competitive position and acquisition missteps in mobile gaming [1] - Electronic Arts is recognized as a leading video game developer with popular franchises such as Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, and The Sims, but has faced challenges in further monetizing its strengths and finding new catalysts for stock rerating [1] Group 2 - There is a belief that while Electronic Arts has potential, certain AI stocks may offer greater promise for higher returns with limited downside risk [2]

Buyback Announcements - A significant buyback of $5 billion was announced by a major company, adding to a long list of companies engaging in stock buybacks recently [1] - Uber announced a $20 billion buyback on August 6, while Charles Schwab announced a $20 billion buyback on July 24, which some view as a potential market catalyst [4][5] - The buyback trend is noted across various companies, with approximately 25% of companies in a growth portfolio having announced buybacks in the last couple of years [7] Company Performance and Strategy - Companies like Lamb and KLA Corp are favored not solely for their buybacks but for their involvement in the artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout, alongside major players like Nvidia and Broadcom [3] - Uber's strong free cash flow, projected at $9 billion this year and expected to rise to $10 billion and $12 billion in the following years, supports its buyback decision [5] - Charles Schwab's buyback is seen as surprising given its recent funding crisis, raising questions about its financial strategy [5][6] Market Implications - The buyback announcements are viewed as management signaling that they believe their shares are undervalued, rather than as direct catalysts for stock price increases [8][9] - There is a belief that the acceleration in buybacks reflects strong fundamentals of many companies, potentially leading to multiple expansions if the market continues to rise [12] - The financial sector may see buybacks as a more significant catalyst compared to other sectors, but the overall sentiment is that buybacks should not be the sole reason for investment decisions [10][12] Industry Trends - The gaming industry is highlighted with Electronic Arts experiencing a decline in shares, while Google integrates AI into its mobile games, indicating a competitive landscape [13] - Electronic Arts is noted for achieving an 80% profit margin and increasing free cash flow, showcasing strong financial health and active gamer engagement [14]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights that Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) experienced a 4.3% decline in its stock price during early trading [1] - The company is scheduled to showcase "Battlefield 6" at the Tokyo Game Show 2025, which will take place from September 25 to September 28, 2025, at Makuhari Messe [1]

Group 1 - In 2025, PC/console game downloads are expected to exceed 1 billion, with Steam holding the largest market share due to its dominance on the PC platform [1] - Steam's game purchase revenue is projected to grow by 15% compared to the same period in 2024, potentially surpassing $12 billion by the end of the year [3] - Action games (262 million downloads), shooting games (189 million downloads), and role-playing games (131 million downloads) are the most popular genres among PC/console players in 2025 [5] Group 2 - Electronic Arts (EA) is currently the highest download publisher, benefiting from sports and IP game series, as well as collaborations like "Split Fiction" and "It Takes Two" [8] - Microsoft and Sony rank second and third respectively, with Sony's content performing better on PlayStation and Microsoft's content being more popular on Xbox, largely due to the integration with Game Pass [8] - Notable games include "Marvel Rivals" by NetEase, which is the most downloaded PC/console game this year, and Kepler Interactive's "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" and "REMATCH" gaining significant traction [11] Group 3 - In the AAA game sector, sports games like "EA SPORTS FC 25" and "NBA 2K25" continue to dominate, while the action RPG "Monster Hunter Wilds" also performs strongly [14] - The AA game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" has received critical acclaim and surpassed "NBA 2K25" in downloads [14] - The independent game "R.E.P.O." has the highest sales, reflecting its popularity in content creation circles, while the second-ranked independent game "Schedule I" achieved comparable download performance at double the price [14]

Core Viewpoint - Electronic Arts Inc. has launched the Early Access of its new skateboarding game, skate., which is part of an award-winning franchise and is available on multiple platforms [1]. Group 1: Game Release Details - The game skate. is now available in Early Access on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC through Steam, Epic Games Store, and EA App [1]. - skate. is a free-to-play game, allowing easy access for both new players and long-time fans [1]. - The game features full cross-platform capabilities with cross-progression support, enhancing the multiplayer experience [1].