Record High Booking Revenue Yet... Game Company Facing Major Acquisition Sees Net Profit Decline

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced preliminary results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, ended December 31, 2025, reporting record quarterly net bookings of $3.046 billion (approximately KRW 4.1 trillion), driven by the launch of Battlefield 6 and strong performances from EA SPORTS FC and Apex Legends.

On a GAAP basis, revenue totaled $1.91 billion (roughly KRW 2.5 trillion), while net income declined to $88 million (about KRW 120 billion) from $293 million in the prior-year quarter. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share, payable on March 18.

EA reaffirmed that it is in the process of being acquired in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $55 billion (around KRW 74 trillion) by a consortium led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The company said it will not host a conference call following this quarter’s earnings release. Meanwhile, CEO Andrew Wilson sold 5,000 shares of common stock on January 15 under a prearranged trading plan, generating $1.02 million (about KRW 1.4 billion), and now holds approximately 120,000 shares.

In a notice dated January 13, EA confirmed it will release its final third-quarter financial results after market close on February 3, reiterating that it will suspend the earnings conference call and refrain from providing forward-looking guidance due to the pending acquisition.

The transaction, which offers $210 in cash per share, is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent. Once completed, EA will delist from Nasdaq and become a privately held company.

Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is a leading global interactive entertainment company that has steadily expanded its digital download and live services revenue across console, PC, and mobile platforms, leveraging major IPs such as EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and The Sims.

Amid rising development and marketing costs and shifting player preferences, the global gaming industry is experiencing consolidation among major players and a growing emphasis on live services and subscription models. EA’s pending acquisition represents one of the largest deals in this industry restructuring.