Video game company Electronic Arts, maker of blockbuster game franchises like Battlefield and The Sims, says it will “maintain creative control” under the brand’s new ownership group. The group of investors, which includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, acquired Electronic Arts (EA) in a $55 billion buyout in September. The involvement of the PIF and Affinity Partners — run by Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, respectively — continues to fuel questions about creative and cultural changes, monopolization, censorship, and more.
EA Addresses Employee Questions
EA acknowledged employee concerns and questions in a recently revised FAQ (via Game File). “EA will maintain creative control, and our track record of creative freedom and player-first values will remain intact,” the updated document reads. “Our mission, values, and commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged. We will continue to be guided by our cultural values of creativity, pioneering, passion, determination, learning, and teamwork.”
In response to one question about stockholder influence on creative and business decisions, Electronic Arts says its “mission to Inspire The World To Play—and to build for global communities of players and fans—remains unchanged, and our creative freedom and player-first values will remain intact.” The company’s response continues: “The Consortium believes in our vision, our leadership and our focus on creating games, stories, and content that reflect a range of experiences and delivering them to our global player community. They’re investing in the creativity that defines EA.”
The original version of the FAQ flyer was distributed to employees in September. The second, “supplemental” employee FAQ includes new questions — “Will the debt impact our ability to invest in and grow the business?” and “Will our approach to AI change under new ownership?” — and expands on existing answers about internal culture shifts. Additionally, the updated FAQ says Electronic Arts’ headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California.
Investment Consortium Controversy
Fans, industry experts, and government officials continue to raise questions about whether involvement from Saudi Arabia and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law could impact creative direction. Although Electronic Arts has remained relatively quiet since buyout news broke in September, some opposing groups are highlighting what they believe are conflicts of interest.
In an October report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), writer Daniel Stone says the “terms reveal a pay-to-play scheme.” He explains:
“On a $2 billion investment, Saudi Arabia pays Affinity Partners $25 million annually in asset management fees, plus a share of profits. This structure guarantees Kushner income regardless of investment performance. Since 2021, Affinity Partners has collected at least $112 million in fees from Saudi Arabia and other international investors but has yet to yield any profits for the governments funding the firm. Following a 2024 Senate investigation, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) concluded that Affinity Partners “may not be motivated by commercial considerations, but rather by the opportunity for foreign governments to pay members of the Trump family. Kushner’s involvement essentially forestalls federal regulation of the deal.”
‘Kushner’s involvement essentially forestalls federal regulation of the deal’
Affinity Partners, founded by Kushner in 2021, is a Florida-based enterprise that primarily invests in companies in the United States and Israel. According to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Affinity Partners “holds shares in businesses accused by the United Nations of operating in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman faces global accusations of human rights violations. One 2019 report from the United Nations (UN) said “the state of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible” for the death of journalist and outspoken government critic, Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia denies involvement.
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