Electronic Arts, the maker of video games such as The Sims, Madden NFL and Battlefield, has been bought by Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund and a group of investors for $55bn (£41bn). EA is best known for its blockbuster sports games including EA Sports FC (previously called Fifa). In what is one of the biggest buyouts on record, EA Games is being taken private, ending its 36-year history as a publicly traded company. As a private company, EA will no longer be required to report its financial results each quarter, freeing it from some scrutiny, which some analysts say can remove some pressure to meet targets. On Monday, EA reported lower than expected revenues in the last quarter, blamed on a decline in engagement with its latest Battlefield game.