Abandon single-player, move development to Saudi Arabia, "reduce labour"? Experts on what EA's huge buyout debt could really mean
Electronic Arts has been acquired through a leveraged buyout, co-owned by private equity firms and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, with approximately $20 billion borrowed from Morgan Stanley. This significant debt places pressure on EA to generate substantial interest payments, leading experts to predict major shifts including potential layoffs and a focus on profitable live service games over niche single-player titles. The acquisition's structure and Saudi Arabia's strategic investment goals suggest a potential reorientation of EA's development and business practices.
Eurogamer
- Entities
- Electronic Arts
- Mass Effect 2
- Kieran Maguire
- George E. Osborn
- Saudi Arabia
- EA Sports FC 24
- Morgan Stanley
- Leveraged Buyout
- Video Game Industry
- Adrian Fernandez-Perez
- Game Development
- Live Service Games
- EA Sports FC 26
- Public Investment Fund
Original source
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