EA Staff: The Saudi Takeover Wouldn't Have Happened Without Compromises to Company Culture
Staff at Electronic Arts, now owned by the Saudi government and Jared Kushner's group, are concerned about the future. A report from Game Developer reveals that employees fear mass layoffs and creative interference. One staffer stated: "If EA had a culture that had any semblance of a moral backbone, it wouldn't get into bed with a prince who's disgusted by many of its current employees' sexualities and ethnicities."
Employees suggest that new owners may influence projects implicitly: projects simply won't get approved if they don't align with Saudi government values or owner expectations. One worker noted that the prince won't publicly ban certain topics, but such projects will stop getting funded.
Layoff fears are also rising. Staff expect that instead of mass cuts, the company will execute waves of small layoffs to bypass WARN notices. One employee explained that leveraged buyouts typically load the acquired company with debt, making it likely that underperforming teams or game series will be dissolved or sold off.
In response to these concerns, the company has offered only vague reassurances. At town hall meetings discussing the deal, some executives appeared out of touch. In one instance, a "hot mic" incident was reported where an executive muttered "little babies" while answering questions about the deal's impact on culture and job security.
In the short term, the company is trying to calm employees by highlighting potential payouts for those who own vested shares. One staffer noted that at this point, all one can do is secure a payout today, as unemployment may follow tomorrow.
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