Netflix’s slow but deliberate expansion into gaming has been one of the industry’s most intriguing storylines in recent years. What began with mobile app releases has evolved into studio acquisitions, internal development teams, and an increasingly bold vision of blending Hollywood-scale storytelling with interactive design.
Meanwhile, Electronic Arts has spent the last two years at the center of major acquisition speculation. With franchises like FIFA, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and The Sims, EA remains one of the last giant publishers still independent and that alone keeps it constantly in the crosshairs of global investors, tech companies, and entertainment giants.
That’s where today’s revelation lands: A new report suggests Netflix seriously considered trying to buy EA, long before the company shifted its attention toward the looming Warner Bros. deal. The discussions didn’t escalate into formal negotiation, but the idea was evaluated internally as Netflix explored high-impact ways to accelerate its gaming ambitions.
Part of the hesitation reportedly came from something happening behind the scenes: EA was already entangled in a massive proposed buyout backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, a deal valued at around $55 billion. If completed, Saudi investors would hold more than 93% of EA, effectively full control. That ongoing process made EA a far more complicated target for any outsider, especially a company like Netflix that was already navigating its own investor scrutiny.
Combine that with regulatory risks, the sheer price of acquiring a publisher of EA’s scale, and internal concern about how far Netflix should extend beyond streaming, and the idea eventually lost momentum. Netflix instead pivoted toward the Warner Bros. acquisition, which executives saw as a clearer and more synergistic path.
Still, the fact Netflix even considered EA shows how aggressively the company is thinking about the future. This isn’t just about adding games to a subscription library, it’s about securing a long-term position in a rapidly consolidating entertainment landscape.
Do you think Netflix should eventually try to buy a major game publisher or would moves like an EA takeover do more harm than good for the industry? Tell us what you think.
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Why would Netflix consider buying EA?
Because EA would give Netflix instant access to blockbuster franchises and a global gaming infrastructure.
What is the EA–PIF buyout that keeps being mentioned?
It refers to a proposed acquisition plan in which Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) through a global investment consortium, would purchase Electronic Arts in a deal estimated at around $55 billion. If completed, the group would effectively take control of the company.
