Electronic Arts (EA) employees and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union have raised serious concerns about a proposed $55 billion private acquisition of the iconic video game company, which is being backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. The union has criticized the lack of worker representation in negotiations for the deal, warning that any job losses resulting from the acquisition would be driven by investor interests rather than operational necessity. The CWA asserts that EA’s financial robustness, with annual revenues of $7.5 billion and $1 billion in profit, has made it one of the leading developers and publishers in the games industry. However, the union argues that the people responsible for this success—its employees—were not consulted in the process of this proposed buyout, raising fears that the decision is a choice to maximize profits for investors rather than a necessary cost-cutting measure.
The union’s formal response, which includes a petition calling for regulatory scrutiny of the deal, highlights a broader industry concern. Members of the United Videogame Workers (UVW) union and CWA have expressed fears that the private equity acquisition would lead to job cuts, with potentially entire studios being closed under the guise of being ‘less profitable.’ They point to the number of layoffs across the gaming industry since 2022, which have left many concerned about the future of EA’s studios, particularly those associated with EA Sports and EA Entertainment. The union’s statement underscores its belief that decisions shaping the company’s job security, creative freedom, and long-term vision are being made behind closed doors by executives without direct input from the very workers who have built EA’s legacy. The workers are demanding that regulatory bodies and politicians ensure that any outcome of this deal protects jobs, preserves creative control, and maintains accountability to the employees who drive EA’s success.
As a unified front, the UVW-CWA union emphasizes that the value of the video game industry lies in its workforce. They are vowing to fight against corporate greed, arguing that the future of the industry should not be decided by a small group of investors who lack the direct involvement in the development of video games. The union is also calling on gamers and supporters to join their cause and support a petition that seeks to ensure that the video game industry remains a space for innovation, creativity, and worker empowerment. This move reflects a growing trend of labor activism in the entertainment industry, as workers from various sectors come together to protect their rights and the future of their respective fields.