EA’s Saudi takeover wouldn’t have happened if the company’s culture “had any semblance of a moral backbone”, say staff fearing layoffs and ownership meddling
Electronic Arts has completed a leveraged buyout that has taken the company private, with backing from the Saudi Arabian government and investment interests tied to Jared Kushner. The acquisition marks a significant ownership shift for one of gaming’s largest publishers.
Following the transaction, EA staff are expressing substantial concerns about the implications of the new ownership structure. Key worries include potential widespread layoffs, the possibility of individual teams or game franchises being sold off, and uncertainty about how Saudi Arabian state values may influence future game development and green-light decisions.
Employees have indicated that EA’s leadership has not adequately addressed or alleviated these concerns, with staff feeling the company lacks a sufficient moral framework to have resisted such an ownership change. The transition has created considerable anxiety within the company regarding career security and the company’s future direction.
Complicating matters is the challenging state of the game industry job market. Some employees have expressed a desire to leave EA but feel unable to do so due to limited employment opportunities elsewhere in game development.
The takeover reflects broader consolidation trends in the gaming industry, where major publishers continue to change hands through significant acquisition and investment deals. The extent to which the new Saudi-backed ownership will influence EA’s business practices, content decisions, and corporate culture remains uncertain.