EA has officially gone private after a $55 billion deal with three major investment firms: Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
The reaction online was negative — users doubt the future of the publisher's game series, believing that EA's position will worsen under the new leadership.
Silver Lake, which is simultaneously preparing to buy TikTok, is known for betting on the introduction of AI. This has signaled to players about impending mass layoffs and increased austerity policies. Bloomberg reports that EA will incur a debt of $20 billion after the deal. The company is preparing for a new round of layoffs, aggressive monetization, and project cuts — this is already the second mass layoff in 2025.
Social media users are writing that this is "the most EA-like move ever," as the publisher has long been criticized for greed and a focus on capital rather than games. Franchises such as Battlefield, Sims, FC, and Apex Legends are under threat. At the same time, Saudi Arabia's conservative policies may lead to "anti-agenda edits in games," including The Sims.
A difficult situation is also developing around Motive projects. After last year's closure of Black Panther, the studio risks losing Iron Man as well — the game may well be canceled due to debt obligations.
