Is corporate greed destroying video games?

Recently, the future of the gaming industry has been called into question. The popular gaming company Electronic Arts (EA) announced a buyout in September 2025. EA is a major American video game company known for titles such as “Madden,” “FIFA,” and “The Sims,” generating $7.5 billion in revenue in 2024 alone. In 2025, EA signed a deal with the Private Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), the private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, an investment firm founded by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Since then, the deal has drawn significant backlash within the gaming industry, with concerns about its monetary and ethical ramifications. 

The deal involves a leveraged buyout, in which the buyers acquire a company using borrowed funds, placing debt on the acquired company itself. EA is being acquired for $55 billion, with $20 billion of debt added to the company, making it the largest leveraged buyout in history. To manage that debt, the company could pursue cost-cutting measures such as workforce reductions and increased use of artificial intelligence. The deal could affect thousands of U.S. workers in the highly consolidated gaming industry. Consumers could also face higher prices and decreased game quality. Due to the deal’s size and potential effects on workers and consumers, critics in the gaming community are urging the Federal Trade Commission to review the acquisition under its antitrust and consumer-protection authority.

Concerns have also emerged over the actions of the Saudi Arabian government and the possibility of censorship in EA games. EA and the PIF have stated that the company’s core values will not change as a result of the deal. Still, critics question whether the Saudi government will maintain the inclusive language and themes present in the original games. “The Sims” franchise has been recognized for LGBTQ representation since its 2000 debut, including same-sex relationships, marriage, and adoptions. In Saudi Arabia, same-sex relationships remain illegal and carry severe punishment. Saudi Arabia’s laws, along with ongoing human rights concerns, have raised questions about whether traditionally inclusive content could face future restrictions or censorship under the new owners.

Since the announcement, several popular gaming channels have publicly denounced the deal, with creators leaving the EA Creator Network, a sponsored partnership between independent content creators and EA. On April 15, YouTuber lilsimsie and Twitch streamer Zefrine met with Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida via livestream to discuss the buyout and how viewers can help stop the deal. The event was organized in partnership with Players Alliance, an association of gamers fighting against corporate greed, which launched a petition opposing the deal. During the livestream, participants encouraged viewers to sign the petition and contact their congressional representatives. This livestream marked one of the largest public campaigns against the deal so far, involving a U.S. congressman, and with the petition reaching 60,000 signatures.

Although it may seem like an uphill battle to stop this massive deal between such influential companies, people are doing the work for what they believe in. Despite mainstream perceptions of gaming, the industry generates more revenue than the movie, television, and music industries combined. EA holds significant influence in the global gaming market, and acquisitions like this could give private equity firms and foreign investors greater control over major entertainment platforms. The ramifications of this deal extend far beyond a few games; it could have major consequences for the gaming industry as a whole and for the future of corporate buyouts.

The deal has yet to be finalized and remains subject to regulatory review by multiple government agencies. Advocacy groups, content creators, and players continue to organize campaigns to influence the review process and oppose the deal.