Electronic Arts has conducted a third round of layoffs this year, impacting an unspecified number of employees across its recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. The cuts come as the company's $55 billion leveraged buyout by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund approaches its final stages.
Reports indicate that employees affected by these layoffs have worked remotely, both within and outside the United States. Social media posts from individuals announcing their departure from EA appear to corroborate these reports.
These staffing reductions coincide with broader shifts within EA, including the company's increasing focus on artificial intelligence. CEO Andrew Wilson stated in late 2024 that AI is fundamental to EA's business, with over 100 AI projects reportedly in development. EA executive Laura Miele has suggested that AI has fostered a significant increase in creativity among the publisher's studios, while AI has been cited as a justification for job cuts across numerous companies, not exclusively within the video game industry.
The impending leveraged buyout by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which would result in the nation owning 93.4 percent of the company, is expected to be finalized within the next few months. The deal's completion is contingent on European anti-trust approval, with a verdict due by July 23rd.
Should this acquisition proceed as planned, it would represent the largest leveraged buyout in history. The deal, initially announced in September 2025, has faced some protest from video game unions and human rights organizations, despite expectations of minimal resistance, partly due to the involvement of figures associated with the United States government. The exact timeline for the buyout's completion and the ultimate size of EA's workforce at that time remain uncertain.