So EA says nothing will change. Sure. That’s what they always say right before everything changes.
So, Electronic Arts, the FIFA and Battlefield guys, just said they’ll “keep creative control” after being sold.
To who?
A mix of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners. Yeah, that Jared Kushner.
It’s supposed to be the biggest all-cash take-private deal ever. PIF already owned a chunk of EA and is now buying the rest. The whole thing will take about six to nine months, and EA swears it’s all fine. No layoffs. No changes. Same leadership. Same CEO. Same “creative freedom.”
They even sent their people a Q&A saying their “mission, values, and player-first focus” stay exactly the same.
Which, let’s be honest, is what every company says right before they quietly shift direction.
Because when you get bought by a sovereign fund run by a crown prince and a private equity crowd, “creative freedom” tends to mean “we’ll see.”
EA insists it’s not about money problems, just “moving faster” and “unlocking opportunities.” Which sounds like the kind of corporate talk that usually hides a few nervous board meetings.
Meanwhile, the Communications Workers of America, the big U.S. union, has already asked the FTC to take a closer look. They want to know who’s really in charge here, and what happens next for workers and players.
So no, EA’s not collapsing. But it’s definitely changing hands.
And when a $35 billion publisher suddenly becomes the biggest private gaming deal in history, maybe it’s okay to raise an eyebrow.
After all, nothing says creative freedom like being owned by a prince, a billionaire fund, and a Trump in-law.
