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'I feel dirty:' EA workers trapped in a maelstrom of cynicism and doubt after Saudi buyout
Employees at Electronic Arts are expressing deep cynicism and doubt following the company's buyout by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Despite assurances from EA leadership, workers fear the acquisition will lead to cultural changes, potential project cancellations, and layoffs, as well as concerns about the country's human rights record and the use of 'sportswashing' and 'pixelwashing' to launder its image.
Games Inbox: How much disruption will GTA 6 launch cause?
Readers discuss the potential disruption caused by the Grand Theft Auto 6 launch, comparing it to Pokémon Go and anticipating media coverage. Other topics include the success of recent Star Wars games, competition between publishers like Activision and EA, the Amiga retro scene, the high cost of Star Citizen, concerns about Bethesda's game development quality post-layoffs, and the secrecy surrounding Nintendo's Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.
EA Is Now Privately Owned After a Record $55 Billion Buyout What It Means for Players | Gamedoper
Electronic Arts has been acquired for $55 billion by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, making it the largest all-cash leveraged buyout in history. This move takes EA private, removing public shareholder oversight and potentially allowing for longer-term investments, with a focus on AI in game development highlighted by Silver Lake. While EA's current game pipeline remains unaffected, the long-term impact on monetization and game development strategies under the new ownership is yet to be seen.
Snabbkollen: Vilka typer av förstapersonsskjutare spelar du helst?
A survey reveals player preferences for different types of first-person shooter games. Story-driven FPS titles are the most popular choice, followed by looter shooters and immersive sims. Arena shooters and extraction shooters received the lowest engagement.
EA taken private by Saudi Arabia, GTA marketing jumps the shark, and Devolver's huge mistake - Patch Notes #64
Electronic Arts has been taken private by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for $55 billion. Devolver Digital is seeking to delist from the London Stock Exchange due to the incompatibility of short-term investor demands with the volatile video game industry. Additionally, the next trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI will premiere exclusively on Netflix before a wider release.
EA Sports FC 27 to bring back feature last seen in FIFA 16 says leak
A leak suggests that EA Sports FC 27 will reintroduce the PhotoFit feature, allowing players to scan their faces into the game for avatar creation, a technology last seen in FIFA 16. The feature is expected to be implemented in modes like Player Career. EA Sports FC 27 is scheduled for release on September 25, 2026, for multiple platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
EA’s Saudi takeover will be "a real waste" if it turns the publishers into a "sequel-and-mega-franchise machine", Helldivers 2 studio boss says
Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, expressed concern that Electronic Arts' recent $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabian investors could lead the publisher to focus solely on sequels and mega-franchises, potentially wasting its diverse game catalog. He hopes for continued business and creative diversity within EA, despite the consolidation and significant debt incurred by the deal, which may lead to cost-cutting measures and layoffs.
More EA layoffs expected as Saudi Arabia buyout is completed
Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion acquisition by an investor consortium, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, making it a private company. The deal, financed partly by a $20 billion loan, raises concerns about potential mass layoffs and increased microtransactions to offset the debt. The PIF now holds a majority stake, leading to discussions about potential censorship of inclusive titles like The Sims due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
EA have gone private, as Saudi Arabia and Jared Kushner's investment groups complete their $55 billion acquisition
Electronic Arts (EA), publisher of franchises like EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners for $55 billion, making it a private company. The deal has raised concerns among unionized workers regarding potential layoffs and among LGBTQIA+ players about the future of diversity in EA's games, though some developers have expressed commitment to maintaining inclusivity.
The deal is done: Electronic Arts is now officially owned by Saudi Arabia
Electronic Arts has been officially acquired by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The deal, valued at a significant sum, gives Saudi Arabia a 93.4% ownership stake. Concerns have been raised regarding the company's future support for inclusive games given Saudi Arabia's human rights record, while EA leadership emphasizes continued innovation and investment, including in AI.
EA and games like The Sims, Dragon Age, and Battlefield are now officially owned by Saudi Arabia and private equity as…
Electronic Arts has officially been acquired by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners for $55 billion, making it a private company. CEO Andrew Wilson stated the move will allow for bold investment and innovation. Concerns have been raised regarding potential censorship of IPs like The Sims and Dragon Age, as well as national security risks due to foreign ownership.
EA is now owned by Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump's son-in-law
Electronic Arts (EA) has been taken private in a $55 billion transaction led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Other investors include Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner. The deal, which faced some scrutiny over geopolitical and employment concerns, was finalized on August 4, 2026, with EA asserting it will retain creative control and avoid immediate layoffs.
Saudi Arabia's $55 billion takeover of EA could waste "one of the best catalogues in the industry" by reducing it to a "sequel-and-mega-franchise machine," Helldivers 2 boss worries
Electronic Arts has officially been acquired by a group of investors led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for $55 billion. Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, expressed concern that this consolidation could lead EA to focus solely on sequels and mega-franchises, potentially wasting its diverse catalogue of games and reducing creative diversity within the industry.
Saudi Arabia's $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts will happen next week
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is set to complete its $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts next week, with all regulatory approvals secured. This acquisition, which will take EA private, has raised concerns among content creators and former employees regarding potential shifts in game content and the company's values. The deal, the largest leveraged buyout in history, will saddle EA with significant debt, potentially leading to cost-cutting measures focused on its most profitable franchises like Battlefield and EA Sports FC.
Evening Reading - July 27, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various gaming news and internet curiosities. Topics include the Flood in Halo, Nintendo Switch Sports, Street Fighter 6, Battlefield maps, Ubisoft game ownership on PC, Marvel Snap, God of War Laufey, Marvel Tokon, and Xbox's ad-supported cloud streaming. The article also touches on puzzles, developer design choices, and the impact of AI.
Weekend Discussion - July 26, 2026
This Weekend Discussion article from Shacknews covers various topics including potential remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a desire for more original Xbox titles, and the introduction of new handheld gaming devices. It also features discussions on Halo maps, music, and updates on games like Nintendo Switch Sports Resort and Street Fighter 6.
Shack Chat: What's your favorite Battlefield map?
Shacknews staff members discuss their favorite maps across the Battlefield franchise, highlighting specific locations from titles like Battlefield 4, Bad Company 2, and Battlefield 3. The discussion includes personal anecdotes and reasons for their map preferences, with a new map from Battlefield 6 also being mentioned.
European Commission says EA's controversial $55 billion buyout "would not raise competition concerns" and…
The European Commission has approved the proposed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts by a group of investors led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The commission concluded that the buyout would not raise significant competition concerns, given its limited impact on the markets where the companies are active. This approval moves the deal, which would see PIF own 93.7% of EA, one step closer to completion.
EA Sale To Saudi Arabia Clears A Major Hurdle
Electronic Arts' proposed sale to an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has received approval from the European Commission, clearing a significant hurdle. While the $55 billion deal is structured as a leveraged buyout, potential cost-cutting measures like layoffs and studio closures at EA and its subsidiaries, such as BioWare, are a concern for employees.
"Never say never": Criterion aren't ruling out a return to Need For Speed, but Battlefield is their only focus for now
Criterion Games, known for the Burnout and Need For Speed series, is now exclusively focused on supporting the Battlefield franchise as part of Electronic Arts' new strategy. Studio representatives Danny Isaac and Amy Pejic stated that while their current focus is Battlefield, they are not ruling out future projects outside of the series, emphasizing that creative freedom can exist within the vast Battlefield platform. They also confirmed that the Burnout series is unlikely to return, but the future of Need For Speed remains open.
