Public Investment Fund
Public Investment Fund business and news from across the web.
EA hit with third round of layoffs this yearElectronic Arts has conducted its third round of layoffs this year, impacting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. This follows previous staff reductions affecting developers on "Skate" and "Battlefield 6," and comes after EA's acquisition by an investor consortium last September. The company has also shed staff and studios over multiple years, including layoffs at "Apex Legends," Codemasters, BioWare, and the closure of Cliffhanger Games.
EA exec says AI has helped drive 'a real rise of creativity' at its studiosElectronic Arts president Laura Miele believes artificial intelligence is fostering a significant increase in creativity within the company's studios by automating tedious tasks and speeding up development. She highlighted faster prototyping and more efficient creative discussions as key benefits. The article also touches on EA's broader embrace of generative AI and employee concerns regarding its impact on layoffs.
EA is reportedly laying off recruitment, customer support, safety, and IT staffElectronic Arts is reportedly conducting another round of layoffs, primarily affecting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. This follows a previous clarification in October that there would be no immediate workforce changes after EA entered into an acquisition agreement with a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The company has also recently made redundancies at studios working on Battlefield and the Skate game.
EA rolls out Advertising platform to let companies market "directly into gameplay"Electronic Arts has launched EA Advertising, a new platform enabling brands to market directly to consumers through in-game placements like stadium signage and dynamic content. The company states this will enhance, not disrupt, the player experience, offering custom integrations and targeting capabilities. While in-game advertising is controversial, EA aims to integrate ads authentically, with brands like Visa and Red Bull already on board.
Why the $55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts isn't your usual leveraged buyoutA consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is acquiring Electronic Arts for $55 billion in a record-breaking leveraged buyout. The deal, financed with over $20 billion in debt, raises concerns about future investment in EA's games and its ability to service the debt. Experts suggest the acquisition is a strategic move by Saudi Arabia to gain soft power and bolster its esports initiatives, rather than a typical financial play.
Pokémon Go 2 is out, but Niantic has big plans under new owner ScopelyScopely president of games Ed Wu and head of M&A Heather Tacskovics discussed the company's $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic Games one year ago. They clarified that a direct sequel to Pokémon Go is unlikely, emphasizing a focus on community and exploration. The acquisition integrated Niantic's game portfolio, including Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now, into Scopely's operations, while Niantic's tech division was spun out.
Tekken veteran Katsuhiro Harada to lead new SNK subsidiaryTekken veteran Katsuhiro Harada has been appointed CEO of SNK's newly established subsidiary, VS Studio SNK. The studio aims to leverage combined technology and knowledge to deliver top-tier gaming experiences. SNK, now largely owned by Saudi Arabia's Electronic Gaming Development Company, is also expanding its global reach with new studios.
Protesters 'raid' EA to oppose Saudi Arabia acquisitionProtesters gathered at Electronic Arts headquarters to oppose the acquisition of the company by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The group attempted to deliver a petition signed by over 70,000 people but was denied direct access by security. Concerns were raised about potential layoffs, studio closures, and content restrictions due to the leveraged buyout and foreign influence.- Cosplayers plan to storm EA headquarters today to protest Saudi Arabia buyoutCosplayers are planning to protest at Electronic Arts headquarters against a proposed $55 billion buyout by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners. The protest aims to deliver a 70,000-signature petition and raise concerns about potential staff layoffs, increased monetization, and studio closures.
Cosplaying Gamers Will Raid EA HQ To Protest Saudi Arabia's $55 Billion BuyoutGamers are planning a cosplay protest at Electronic Arts' headquarters on May 11 to oppose Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's proposed $55 billion buyout. The Players Alliance HQ group aims to deliver over 70,000 petition signatures and raise awareness about potential negative consequences like layoffs and increased monetization due to the debt burden on EA.
EA boasts record year thanks to Battlefield 6 and EA Sports FCElectronic Arts reported record net bookings of $8 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, driven by the successful launches of Battlefield 6 and EA Sports FC 26. Despite the record financial performance, the company also conducted layoffs affecting Battlefield developers. EA is currently undergoing a pending acquisition by an investor consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
CWA Canada president says Saudi buyout of EA should trigger 'virtually every alarm bell'CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth has urged the Canadian government to scrutinize the proposed $55 billion buyout of Electronic Arts by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund due to national security risks. Concerns include potential data misuse, surveillance, and the transfer of sensitive AI technology to a foreign state. The union also highlighted potential job losses for Canadian EA workers due to the deal's financing structure.
Saudi Investment Firm Has Increased Its Stake In CapcomSaudi investment firm Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC) has increased its stake in Capcom to 6.04%, making it the fourth-largest shareholder. This investment, valued at approximately $617 million, follows EGDC's previous acquisition of a 5.03% stake. Capcom also announced plans to reveal more games before the end of fiscal year 2027, focusing on both new and established franchises.
Saudi Arabia’s EGDC Raises Ownership Stake in Capcom, Now Owns 6.04 PercentSaudi Arabia's Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC) has increased its ownership stake in Capcom to 6.04 percent, acquiring an additional 1.01 percent. The EGDC, owned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also holds a majority stake in SNK and is involved in the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts by the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.- Savvy Games Group to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billionSavvy Games Group, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has agreed to acquire Moonton Games for $6 billion. This significant acquisition marks a major move in the gaming industry.
Savvy Games acquires Mobile Legends developer Moonton for $6 billionSavvy Games has acquired Mobile Legends developer Moonton from ByteDance for $6 billion, aiming to expand its mobile gaming division and esports presence. Separately, Roblox announced plans to charge creators for brand integrations starting in 2027, framing it as an evolution of user, creator, and brand responsibility rather than a revenue-driven move.
Top 12 Most Expensive Video Game Buyouts Of All TimeThis article lists the top 12 most expensive video game buyouts, with Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard topping the list. Other major deals include EA's $55 billion sale to an investor consortium and Take-Two's $12.7 billion purchase of Zynga. The analysis highlights trends of industry consolidation and significant investment from entities like Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
ByteDance Sells Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Dev Moonton to Saudis for $6bByteDance has agreed to sell Moonton, the developer of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Saudi Arabian-owned Savvy Games Group for over $6 billion. This acquisition is part of Saudi Arabia's significant investment in the gaming sector. Moonton's parent company, ByteDance, previously acquired the studio in 2021 but has since been divesting from its gaming ventures.
The Sims 4's Maker Marketplace Is An Insult To Both Players And ModdersElectronic Arts and Maxis have faced backlash for introducing The Sims 4 Marketplace, a system for paid mods and microtransactions. Players are frustrated by additional monetization in a game already laden with DLC, and creators receive only 30% of sales, with EA taking 70%. The article criticizes this model as predatory and an insult to both players and modders, especially given the long-standing player request for a color wheel customization feature that EA claims is technically impossible.- ByteDance is selling its Moonton game unit to Savvy Games for a cool $6 billionByteDance has agreed to sell its mobile game developer Moonton, known for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Savvy Games Group for $6 billion. This move is part of ByteDance's strategic shift away from gaming towards AI, while Savvy Games Group, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, continues its expansion in the gaming sector.