EA Workers Push Back Against Controversial Sale to Saudi Arabia and Private Equity Firms
A storm is brewing at Electronic Arts (EA), and it’s not just about games. Employees of the gaming giant, alongside members of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), have openly voiced their opposition to EA's proposed sale and privatization. In a strongly worded joint statement, these union members argued that they were left out of the negotiation process entirely and expressed deep concerns that the deal could trigger widespread layoffs.
The group is particularly worried about the $55 billion acquisition, claiming it "will further concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few financial gatekeepers, while failing to address the real concerns of both players and employees." And this is the part most people miss: EA isn’t struggling financially. In fact, the company rakes in around $7.5 billion in revenue annually, with $1 billion in profit each year, making it one of the largest video game developers and publishers on the planet.
"EA’s success is built on the creativity, skill, and dedication of tens of thousands of employees—workers who made the company valuable enough to buy in the first place," the statement emphasizes. Yet, ironically, these very employees are the ones who could face job losses if the deal goes through, without having had any say in the negotiations.
The union is making it clear: any layoffs or studio closures resulting from this deal would be choices made to benefit investors, not necessities for running the business. "This is about padding investors' pockets, not strengthening EA," they argue.
To amplify their concerns, the union has launched a petition urging the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to scrutinize the sale. They are calling on regulators and lawmakers to ensure that any path forward safeguards jobs and preserves creative freedom within the company.
The deal, announced in late September, involves selling EA to a consortium that includes the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. To finance the sale, EA plans to take on $20 billion in debt—a move many fear will increase the likelihood of job cuts.
The statement also highlights a recurring pattern: "Whenever private equity or billionaire investors take a studio private, employees lose transparency and influence. Decisions that directly impact our work, our art, and our futures happen behind closed doors, often by executives who have never written a line of code, built virtual worlds, or supported live services."
The message from EA’s workforce is clear: the true value of video games lies in the people who create them. They are uniting to resist letting corporate greed dictate the future of the industry.
So, what do you think? Could this sale change the landscape of EA and the gaming industry as a whole? Share your thoughts in the comments, and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server to discuss further.
For more news from Insider Gaming, check out the story on the head of Assassin’s Creed leaving Ubisoft after 20 years, and sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive updates and insider information.
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