Gamers, developers protest Saudi Arabia’s bid to acquire Electronic Arts

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Electronic Arts is getting closer to being sold to investors from Saudi Arabia, but the deal is facing criticism from protestors who believe it’s a mistake.

This week, a group called the Players Alliance protested outside Electronic Arts’ offices in Redwood City. Dressed as characters from The Sims, they demonstrated against the proposed $55 billion acquisition of the company that makes popular games like The Sims and Madden NFL. The protestors displayed signs saying “Stop the deal” and presented a petition with over 70,000 signatures from gamers, developers, and creators who oppose the deal.

This event comes after Electronic Arts announced last year it would be bought by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.

If completed, this purchase—made entirely in cash—would be the biggest takeover of a public company ever recorded.

Once finalized, Saudi Arabia will own the majority of the company, and Electronic Arts (EA) will assume $20 billion in debt. Current owners have already given their approval, and the deal is now under review by federal regulators.

The Players Alliance is concerned that this deal will probably cause job losses and significant cuts at the company, potentially including replacing workers with artificial intelligence. They also worry that EA will pass on the costs of its increased debt to customers, possibly by continuing to heavily rely on in-game purchases, which many gamers already dislike.

EA declined to comment on the matter.

Business

Electronic Arts, the company behind well-known video games like ‘Madden NFL’ and ‘The Sims,’ is being bought and will no longer be publicly traded after a $55 billion deal.

East, one of 16 gamers who protested this week, explained that this issue goes beyond just EA games. He worries it could become a trend across the industry, leading to games prioritizing profits over community and creative expression. He believes companies will start copying this approach, focusing more on how to make money than on building a strong player base and encouraging innovation.

The Players Alliance launched just over a year ago to keep gamers informed about major industry events, such as the acquisition of EA, and to protect the gaming community.

East explained that gaming is increasingly losing its focus on community, creativity, and artistic expression. He believes this is unfair to both players and the developers who passionately create games.

Some people are worried about how Saudi Arabia’s investment in EA might influence the content of their games. Games like The Sims, which often feature same-sex relationships, are important to the LGBTQ+ community. However, because homosexuality is against the law in Saudi Arabia, there are concerns that EA’s games could be altered to reflect those restrictions.

Saudi Arabia is showing interest in Electronic Arts as part of a broader strategy to invest in diverse areas. The country’s Public Investment Fund has already made significant investments in Hollywood, notably contributing $24 billion to help Paramount Skydance acquire Warner Bros., and in major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup.

The company recently stopped funding the LIV Golf tournament, reportedly after losing billions of dollars, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Like LIV Golf, Electronic Arts is heavily involved in sports, being a leading sports video game developer with popular franchises like EA Sports FC (soccer) and Madden NFL.

Hollywood Inc.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia’s investment fund is planning to buy video game company EA, and would end up owning 93.4% of it.

Electronic Arts (EA) started in Northern California in 1982 and still has offices in the Los Angeles area, including Marina Del Rey and Chatsworth. Like many gaming companies, EA has recently had layoffs due to changes in the industry. While gaming became very popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has since faced challenges. Increased production costs and players focusing on just a few popular, ongoing games have led many companies to reduce their workforce.

If regulators give the final go-ahead, the deal is predicted to be completed by the end of the year. Electronic Arts will still be based in Redwood City, and Andrew Wilson will continue as CEO.

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2026-05-14 23:31