EA has officially gone private following 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 former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The online reaction has been negative, with users doubting the future of the publisher's game series, believing that EA's position will worsen under the new leadership.
Silver Lake, which is also preparing to acquire TikTok, is known for its focus on AI implementation. This has signaled to players that mass layoffs and increased austerity measures are imminent. 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 thing ever," as the publisher has long been criticized for its greed and focus on capital rather than games. Franchises such as Battlefield, Sims, FC, and Apex Legends are under threat. Moreover, 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.
