New Delhi, Sept. 29 -- Electronic Arts (EA), a major video game company known for the Battlefield game, will be privatised through a record $55 billion leveraged buyout by a consortium including private equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, the company said Monday.

The agreement for the creator of Battlefield highlights how investors are betting on the appeal of major game franchises as the gaming industry recovers from a long downturn.

This would be the biggest leveraged buyout ever, surpassing TXU Energy's 2007 acquisition and other major deals from that decade, such as Toys "R" Us and Hertz. It comes amid a resurgence in global dealmaking, driven by lower borrowing cost...