Electronic Arts employees are anxious about the company's future after it agreed to a roughly $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the largest ever leveraged buyout in history. Staff quoted anonymously say they feel uneasy working for a company effectively controlled by a Saudi state fund, citing the kingdom's poor record on LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights and free expression, and worry this could affect EA's culture, its output, and its progressive image built up over years.

Workers reportedly fear the deal could bring tighter scrutiny of games' content, potential censorship pressures, and further job losses as the new owners seek returns on their investment, following waves of layoffs EA has already made in recent years. The buyout, which also involves Silver Lake and Affinity Partners (run by Jared Kushner), is expected to close in EA's next fiscal year, leaving employees facing months of uncertainty about leadership, direction and job security.