EA CEO Andrew Wilson has said the company’s values will “remain unchanged” following a $50billion takeover.
Yesterday (September 29) it was confirmed that EA would be acquired by a group of investors that includes Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (CEO of Affinity Partners) and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in a deal thought to be worth more than $50billion.
The acquisition is believed to be completed in the first half of 2027 and will include a debt commitment of $18billion, with many fans worried EA will look to include more microtransactions in its games and lay off more staff to try and balance the books.
Fans are also worried about the future of LGBTQ+-friendly franchises such as The Sims and Mass Effect with same-sex relationships still illegal in Saudi Arabia. In 2022, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness was been banned in Saudi Arabia over the inclusion of a queer character in the film while Eternals was also banned in the country due to a same-sex kiss scene.
lets be very clear: if EA sells out to Saudi Arabias PIF, the sims (and every EA game) will be tied to a fund directly controlled by Mohammed Salman. its a regime linked to murder, slavery, genocide, the oppression of women, and the execution of LGBTQ+ people.
— Alyssa 🍂 (@SimmingVividly) September 27, 2025
However EA CEO Andrew Wilson has tried to calm those fears in a new blog post. “We are entering a new era of opportunity. This is one of the largest and most significant investments ever made in the entertainment industry.
“Our new partners bring deep experience across sports, gaming, and entertainment. They are committed with conviction to EA – they believe in our people, our leadership, and the long-term vision we are now building together,” he wrote.
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“Our mission at EA to ‘inspire the world to play’ continues to guide everything we do. Our values and our commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged,” he continued. “With continued rigor and operational excellence, we can amplify the creativity of our teams, accelerate innovation, and pursue transformative opportunities that position EA to lead the future of entertainment. Together, we’ll create experiences that are bold, expressive, and deeply connected to inspire generations of players around the world.”
Over the past few years, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund has purchased stakes in Nintendo, Capcom and Nexon as well as invested heavily in the world of professional sports. However, the country has been heavily criticised for its stance on LGBTQ+ relationships and its history of human rights violations.
In May, both Human Rights Watch and FairSquare published reports claiming that migrant workers were dying in “preventable accidents” as preparations for the 2034 World Cup began (via the BBC).
In other news, a new The Lord Of The Rings game set to “rival” Hogwarts Legacy is currently in the works according to a new report.
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