EA Employees Slam $55 Billion Buyout in Open Letter

EA employees have voiced their concerns in an open letter about the company’s potential $55 billion sale to a group of investors. They worry the deal could negatively impact the people who create EA’s games. This comes as EA is set to become a private company under the ownership of Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, Silver Lake, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but the sale still needs to be approved by regulators.

The employees of Electronic Arts (EA) expressed concern that the company’s recent buyout didn’t include any representation from the people whose work made EA valuable. They fear mass layoffs as EA takes on debt to finance the deal. The employees, posting on the United Videogame Workers website, are especially worried about studios considered ‘less profitable,’ arguing that these studios are vital to EA’s success and reputation in the gaming industry.

The letter urged regulators and lawmakers to carefully review the deal and safeguard jobs if it goes through. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is also getting its members ready to organize under new ownership, aiming to protect the employees of the company. The letter ended by stating that the industry-wide video game workers’ union, UVW-CWA, is united in opposing corporate greed and fighting for the future of the industry.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren are concerned about Saudi Arabia’s increasing investment in video game companies. They recently wrote to EA’s CEO and the Treasury Secretary, expressing worries that this ownership could create “national security” issues. Over the past two years, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been buying parts of or entire video game companies—including Activision Blizzard, Take-Two, Embracer, and Nintendo—as part of a broader effort to diversify its economy.

Saudi Arabia has made a 12-year agreement with the International Olympic Committee to host the Olympic Esports series. The country will also host WWE Wrestlemania 43 in 2027. However, some observers criticize these investments, calling them “sportswashing” – an attempt to improve Saudi Arabia’s international image and distract from its human rights concerns.

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2025-10-16 17:40