EA Developers Report Feeling Constant Layoff Threat Following Private Buyout Led by Saudi Arabia Investors

Electronic Arts developers are reportedly experiencing heightened anxiety regarding job security following a $55 billion buyout that took the publisher private. The deal was spearheaded by a trio of investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake investors, and Jared Kushner's Affinity firm.

According to a report from Game Developer, anonymous EA staff members describe an increasingly tense work environment. Although EA previously attempted to alleviate staff concerns by sharing a guarantee in 2025 indicating there would be no immediate job changes, workers remain skeptical. One employee stated that everyone assumes they are under the threat of layoffs at all times, driven by industry trends and internal conditions. Some workers expressed cynicism that reductions might occur in waves of small layoffs to bypass Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) requirements mandated by the US government for large workforce reductions.

The publisher previously experienced job cuts this spring across four studios that assisted in creating Battlefield 6. Following those layoffs, financial reports showed that CEO Andrew Wilson earned significantly more than the average employee and could qualify for a substantial severance package depending on future events under the new ownership.

As part of the buyout agreement, EA is reportedly required to pay back $18 billion of total debt taken on during the deal. The publisher has committed to reducing yearly costs by $700 million to help finance this debt, with a portion of that downsizing expected to come from organizational changes. Employees have voiced concerns that underperforming teams or games face the risk of being dissolved or sold off, aligning with historical patterns of leveraged buyouts. Furthermore, staff members have expressed fears that projects might face restrictions or fail to get approved if they do not align with the preferences of the Saudi government.