The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has called on U.S. regulators to step in and review the proposed $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts. They are raising concerns about how the deal could affect workers and the wider gaming industry.
The buyout, reportedly backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Affinity Partners, has sparked questions about foreign influence, job security, and creative control.
The CWA says this deal isn’t about saving a struggling company. It’s about consolidation and profit, and workers could be the ones paying the price.
Union Raises Red Flags Over EA Buyout
In a statement shared with GamesIndustry.biz, the CWA urged both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to closely monitor the buyout.
The union claims that the EA employees who made EA into what it is were not included in the acquisition talks. EA has been and is a profitable company, bringing in over $7 billion annually and $1 billion in profits. This fact is why the Union thinks EA should not be sold.
The main concern of the CWA is that this buyout could affect the team under EA. It could lead to layoffs, job cuts, and even creative risks. Lawmakers such as Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have also expressed concern. They are concerned about who controls player data and creative direction once the deal closes.
For now, EA has not commented on the union’s statement. However, the CWA has made its position clear — it wants regulators to slow the process down and ensure the deal protects workers, players, and the industry’s future. As the group put it, the real value of gaming “comes from the people who make the games and not the investors behind them.”
We’ll try to provide updates on this development as information becomes available.
