Global attention has been drawn to the gaming sector following the $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Silver Lake, however, some of the strongest signs of momentum are being felt in listed exchange-traded funds (ETF).
According to ETF provider Betashares, its Video Games and Esports ETF (ASX: GAME) has been the best-performing ETF in FY2024–25, returning 90.3 per cent.
As of August 2025, the global gaming industry was valued at US$225 billion, with forecasts suggesting this will nearly double by 2032.
The product, which holds companies such as EA, Nintendo and Roblox, has attracted $32.9 million in inflows since January, according to Betashares, with funds under management for video gaming ETFs standing at $139.4 million.
In a statement released by EA, stockholders will receive US$215 per share in cash under the terms of the agreement. The investor consortium has acquired 100 per cent of the company.
Investment strategist at Betashares, Hugh Lam, said this latest takeover has highlighted the scale of investor interest in gaming as a structural growth theme, and marks a “pivotal moment for the gaming industry”.
“With the deal representing a 25 per cent premium for shareholders, it underscores how gaming has evolved to become the 21st century iteration of the entertainment industry.”
Lam noted that gaming has already surpassed movies and music in revenue, while newer technologies such as live services, cloud gaming and artificial intelligence are likely to open further sources of growth.
He further argued that while it can be difficult for retail investors to identify single stock winners, ETFs can provide diversified exposure to the trend.
“Picking individual stock winners such as EA can often be difficult to achieve for many investors, he said. “Instead, an investor can better capture growth of a given thematic such as gaming by holding a diversified index which effectively reduces the risk of any single stock selling off considerably.”
The acquisition of EA follows a series of investments by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in other gaming majors including Activision Blizzard, Nintendo and Capcom.
With global investors seeking exposure to cultural and digital growth industries, ETFs such as GAME are likely to remain a focal point for capital inflows.
