Electronic Arts explores going private with major $50B buyout deal from investor group

Group 1 - Electronic Arts (EA) is potentially going private with a valuation of approximately $50 billion, marking a significant event in the gaming industry [1][2] - The deal, if finalized, would represent the largest leveraged buyout in history, involving investors such as Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners [2] - EA's shares rose about 15% following the news of the potential buyout, indicating positive market sentiment [3] Group 2 - The consolidation trend in the gaming industry continues, with major companies like Activision Blizzard and Zynga being acquired, further decreasing the number of publicly listed video game companies [3] - EA reported a strong start to its fiscal year 2026, with net revenue for the first quarter reaching $1.671 billion, exceeding expectations [10][12] - The upcoming earnings conference call is scheduled for October 28, which may provide further insights into the company's performance and future plans [12]