Electronic Arts (EA) is a leading American video game company founded in May 1982 by Trip Hawkins, a former Apple employee, who revolutionized the early home computer industry by promoting game designers as "software artists" and initially relying on external developers before shifting to internal studios like EA Canada in 1991. Over the decades, EA has built a vast portfolio of iconic franchises—including Battlefield, Need for Speed, The Sims, FIFA/FC, and Madden NFL—while acquiring major studios such as BioWare and Respawn Entertainment, and launching its own PC distribution platform, the EA App, in 2022. In a historic move, EA announced a $55 billion leveraged buyout in September 2025, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, with the deal completed on August 4, 2026, making it the largest leveraged buyout ever recorded. The company has also faced persistent criticism and legal challenges over its business practices, including aggressive microtransactions, releasing incomplete games, and the closure of acquired studios like PopCap Games, which led to layoffs and lawsuits regarding anti-competitive sports licensing. Despite these controversies, EA remains one of the most influential and successful video game publishers in the world, continuously expanding its digital ecosystem and sports simulation dominance.