EA's racing portfolio faces uncertain future after $55bn buyout

Electronic Arts has been acquired by a consortium of investors including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners in a $55 billion deal that takes the company private. The transaction has immediate implications for EA's racing game division, where the publisher's strategic priorities appear to be narrowing significantly.

The F1 franchise remains EA's flagship racing asset. Development of F1 27 is now underway, with the studio having released an expansion for F1 25 in 2026 rather than a full new entry—a move that allowed the team to concentrate resources on the next mainline title. This focus suggests F1 will continue to anchor EA's racing output under new ownership.

Meanwhile, the broader racing portfolio shows signs of stagnation or abandonment. Need for Speed has been effectively shelved since NFS Unbound, with developer Criterion now reassigned to work on Battlefield. EA Sports WRC concluded its run, with the World Rally Championship license transferring to Nacon, which is developing a new WRC title for 2027. GRID has remained silent since GRID Legends, Project CARS is largely dormant, Burnout exists only in retrospect, and Real Racing 3 was shut down after 13 years of operation. Unless EA's new ownership signals a change in direction, the publisher's racing ambitions appear confined to the F1 franchise, leaving other series in limbo.