EA is about to be acquired for approximately 55 billion dollars, through a deal led by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, along with firms like Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. This deal is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, creating an air of uncertainty among the fans and employees of the company.
It’s in the game
As the conclusion of the agreement approaches, fears about possible layoffs and cost-cutting have increased among EA employees. Several employees have expressed their concern about how the new management could impact the work culture, especially in terms of diversity and content in flagship games like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and The Sims. It is rumored that some changes could arise in response to the beliefs of the new owners.
EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, claims that the company’s values “remain unchanged,” but employee reactions suggest there is palpable skepticism. An anonymous employee comments that the treatment seems to dismiss the needs of women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, while others foresee a deteriorating work environment following the closure of the deal. Trick Weekes, narrative designer of Mass Effect and Dragon Age, has publicly expressed his concerns, joking about the possible elimination of studios that promote diversity.
With 20 billion dollars from the deal being absorbed as debt on EA’s books, there are concerns that the company will implement aggressive monetization strategies and staff cuts to manage its financial burden. Additionally, the new owners have shown interest in using artificial intelligence to reduce operational costs, which adds another layer of uncertainty about the company’s future.