Overview
- The $55 billion takeover led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has closed and taken EA private with roughly $18–20 billion of deal-related debt, sources report.
- Multiple anonymous staff say they expect owners to influence what games get greenlit, with some projects likely to be quietly dropped if they conflict with Saudi preferences.
- Workers report they “feel the threat of layoffs at all times” as EA has committed to about $700 million in annual cost savings, including $170 million tied to organizational efficiencies.
- Industry analysts and former EA managers warn that the new financial pressures make mid-tier and single-player franchises such as BioWare’s next Mass Effect particularly vulnerable to reduced funding, sale, or cancellation.
- Employees describe moral distress over the sale because of Saudi Arabia’s human-rights record and say company reassurances have been vague, while critics note the PIF sees entertainment and sports as strategic investment areas.