EA employees fear tighter control over game development after Saudi Arabia's acquisition of the company

It is likely that the new leadership will not tolerate attempts by developers to push their political views and agenda into games.

The acquisition of Electronic Arts by a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) officially closed on August 4. The $55 billion deal turned EA into a private company, with approximately $20 billion in funding raised through debt. In addition to PIF, the consortium included Silver Lake and Jared Kushner's investment firm Affinity Partners.

Following the closing of the deal, EA employees still fear that the new leadership may tighten control over what games the company will develop and what themes will be deemed undesirable.

Concerns about possible changes arose even after the acquisition was announced. Some current and former EA employees expressed apprehension about the fate of projects with a significant emphasis on diversity and inclusivity, particularly The Sims. Former BioWare lead writer Trick Weeks then suggested that projects involving weapons and football would be perceived normally, while a pronounced attempt to promote “Western values” might face problems.

EA previously tried to assure employees that the company's corporate and cultural values would be preserved after the transition to new ownership. However, according to Game Developer, these statements did not alleviate doubts within the company. One employee suggested that projects might simply not receive approval if they do not align with the new owner's views, and developers might even refrain from proposing certain ideas to avoid conflict with management.

Another employee stated that the acquisition causes him moral discomfort due to the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. Yet another employee criticized the company's decision to come under the control of the Saudi prince and noted that Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners' involvement only amplifies the negative perception of the deal.