A Steam profile reported under the name “Abdullah_Al_Saud” briefly displayed the line “I bought EA” as news of Electronic Arts’ sale circulated. The profile’s owner has not been officially identified, however, and the text does not show that its user took part in the purchase. EA’s $55 billion sale was a real, separately documented transaction involving three investors.
What the Steam profile reportedly said
Cybernews reported that the profile briefly used the tagline “I bought EA. ***** Next?” and then “I bought EA.” At the time of that report, the profile name was “Saudia, na-na-na.” Cybernews also noted a byline linking to an old Reddit discussion about a Dota 2 bug and cited a social-media post dated September 30, 2025, showing the profile text.
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Those details document what was reported about the profile; they do not establish who controlled it. The first-person wording is best understood as a boast or joke associated with the sale, not evidence that the account holder bought Electronic Arts.
Who owns the alleged Saudi prince’s Steam account?
The owner has not been officially confirmed. Cybernews said the account was never officially identified as belonging to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or another senior Saudi royal.
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Several explanations circulated, including speculation about Mohammed bin Salman, commenters’ belief that the profile belonged to Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, and a community theory that it might be operated by a Saudi-backed esports or investment organization. The cited reporting did not verify any of these claims. It also did not establish who changed the profile text, whether one person acted alone, or whether an organization controlled the account.
Who actually bought EA?
Electronic Arts completed a $55 billion sale to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, according to the Associated Press. The deal followed an acquisition agreement described in an October 14, 2025 letter from U.S. senators. The transaction and the Steam profile’s unverified identity are separate facts: the completed sale does not confirm that the profile belonged to one of the buyers.
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AP reported that the deal included $20 billion in debt financing and described it as the largest-ever buyout funded by private equity. It said the financing could lead to cost-cutting; that was a possible consequence, not a confirmation that layoffs or other cuts had occurred.
What concerns were raised about EA under new ownership?
In their October 14, 2025 letter to EA CEO Andrew Wilson, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren expressed “profound concern” that EA could cease exercising editorial and operational independence under Saudi majority ownership. Their letter also raised concerns about personal data, AI, and reduced transparency after EA ceased to be a public company. These were the senators’ concerns at the time, not findings that EA had already lost its independence or that a specific post-acquisition harm had occurred.
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The letter stated that EA had at least 700 million users and more than 13 billion hours played in 2024, attributing those figures to analysis it cited. Those are figures presented in the senators’ letter, not an independent Senate finding and not evidence about the Steam account.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the deal means—and what the profile does not prove
The distinction is straightforward: Cybernews reported a profile with the words “I bought EA,” while AP reported a completed purchase by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The profile owner remains unverified, and none of the cited reporting connects that account to the buyer group.
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For broader context, Axios reported PIF’s size at $925 billion in 2025 while discussing Saudi investment strategy; that figure is not EA’s sale price. Axios also quoted Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute president Michael Maudell saying, “At the end of the day, money is the main driver” of the investment strategy. After the sale closed, AP quoted PIF deputy governor Turqi Alnowaiser saying the fund would “invest heavily in EA’s growth.” AP also quoted Wilson saying EA would “invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences for the hundreds of millions of players and fans who inspire us every day.” These statements describe the investors’ and company’s stated aims, not proof of what future decisions or outcomes will be.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
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