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Saudi Arabia owns EA, and according to a Reuters report, Unity is next
Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Silver Lake are considering a bid for Unity Software, the company behind the Unity game engine. The reported talks matter because they could bring another major gaming and technology company under the ownership of investors involved in the $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts.
Silver Lake already owns about 8% of Unity after investing roughly $400 million in 2017, and its Egon Durban sits on Unity’s board. The discussions reportedly put Unity’s valuation at about $25 billion, though its latest earnings showed stronger-than-expected profits; its AI-powered Vector advertising platform helped deliver its first quarterly GAAP profit since it went public in 2020. The article also notes concerns about EA’s post-acquisition layoffs and debt, while the Unity deal remains under discussion.
In short
- Saudi Arabia’s PIF and Silver Lake are reportedly weighing a Unity bid.
- Unity was discussed at a valuation of about $25 billion.
- Its latest results showed its first quarterly GAAP profit since 2020.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A bid could give Unity access to patient capital and strategic support to build on its recent return to quarterly profitability and develop its game engine and advertising business. If the offer reflects Unity’s prospects and shareholders can assess it freely, a sale could reward investors while letting the company pursue growth under owners with substantial experience in gaming and technology.
The case against
Unity is an important tool for game developers, so a change of ownership could affect its long-term priorities, pricing or support for the wider developer community. The reported talks are preliminary, and concerns about layoffs and debt following EA’s acquisition give stakeholders reason to scrutinise whether a larger investment portfolio would serve Unity’s employees, customers and creative ecosystem as well as its shareholders.