An executive at Electronic Arts (EA) has been accused of referring to concerned employees as 'little babies' during a meeting about job security following the company's recent buyout, according to a report from Game Developer. The acquisition, finalized earlier this month, has saddled EA with approximately $20 billion in debt, and layoffs are expected to begin almost immediately.
Buyout Details and Debt Burden
EA's transition to a private company was completed in August 2026, with a group of investors including the Saudi Arabian government's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US president Donald Trump. The deal primarily benefits EA's top executives and the new owners, rather than customers or employees, according to sources familiar with the matter. The $20 billion debt load is expected to trigger significant workforce reductions, worsening already low morale within the company.
Employee Concerns and Executive Response
EA set up question-and-answer sessions to address employee fears, but multiple anonymous staff members told Game Developer that the responses were largely vague reassurances. One source said, 'Responses are mostly just vague reassurances. It hasn’t done enough to quell a lot of the fears over job security or creative influences with Saudi owners.'
During an autumn 2025 meeting, before the acquisition was finalized, employees shared worries about job security. According to two corroborating sources, after the meeting ended, one of EA's lifestyle pillar directors failed to turn off their microphone and was overheard calling employees 'little babies.' In a separate meeting, another executive commented on needing to buy their child a new horse, which some employees viewed as a joke in poor taste, highlighting what they see as a disconnect between executives and staff.
Fears Over Content and Culture Under Saudi Ownership
Employees also expressed concerns about potential changes to EA's work culture and game content under Saudi ownership. Saudi Arabia's government, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has a record of opposing LGBTQ rights, raising fears that franchises like The Sims and Mass Effect, which feature LGBTQ characters, could see those elements toned down or removed. One employee noted, 'Some of us have trouble making ends meet. Some of us lost their jobs with no prospect of finding a new one. I bet most of us don’t even have one pony.'
Last year, EA CEO Andrew Wilson stated that 'Our values and our commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged.' However, employees remain skeptical, pointing to Wilson's past actions, including profiting from Battlefield 6's success while laying off parts of its development team.
