US Lawmakers Urge FTC Review of EA's $55 Billion Sale Amid Concerns Over Job Losses and Industry Stability
A group of 46 Democratic US Congress members, as part of the Congressional Labor Caucus, has written to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging a "thorough review" of Electronic Arts' planned sale to Saudi Arabia-backed sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The $55 billion acquisition is expected to close in early 2027.
The lawmakers are concerned that the deal could have severe consequences for the gaming industry, including increased layoffs and reduced market competition. In a letter to the FTC, they requested an investigation into the labor market impacts of the sale, citing EA's existing power to set wages, the likelihood of post-transaction job losses, and the concentration of labor markets in specific geographic and occupational areas.
The concerns echoed by lawmakers are shared by unions representing video game workers. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and United Video Games union have both expressed support for the petition, calling on regulators and elected officials to scrutinize the deal and protect jobs while preserving creative freedom.
As the acquisition nears completion, lawmakers are seeking additional oversight to ensure that the sale does not harm vulnerable workers or undermine industry stability. The FTC has yet to respond to the lawmakers' request, but their letter highlights the growing unease among lawmakers over the potential consequences of this massive deal.
A group of 46 Democratic US Congress members, as part of the Congressional Labor Caucus, has written to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging a "thorough review" of Electronic Arts' planned sale to Saudi Arabia-backed sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The $55 billion acquisition is expected to close in early 2027.
The lawmakers are concerned that the deal could have severe consequences for the gaming industry, including increased layoffs and reduced market competition. In a letter to the FTC, they requested an investigation into the labor market impacts of the sale, citing EA's existing power to set wages, the likelihood of post-transaction job losses, and the concentration of labor markets in specific geographic and occupational areas.
The concerns echoed by lawmakers are shared by unions representing video game workers. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and United Video Games union have both expressed support for the petition, calling on regulators and elected officials to scrutinize the deal and protect jobs while preserving creative freedom.
As the acquisition nears completion, lawmakers are seeking additional oversight to ensure that the sale does not harm vulnerable workers or undermine industry stability. The FTC has yet to respond to the lawmakers' request, but their letter highlights the growing unease among lawmakers over the potential consequences of this massive deal.
. I guess it's good that unions are speaking up for workers and stuff. But honestly, wouldn't it be weird if they just didn't make any money from this deal at all? Like, what a shock 
. The FTC should probably take a closer look, but we'll see how that goes... 
so like i was playing FIFA last nite and my mate was telling me about how his bro is a pro gamer but he had to quit cuz EA was being super harsh on their wages like what kinda company does that lol anyway back 2 the news so these law makers are literally trying 2 protect video game devs who r already struggling 2 make ends meet in this toxic industry i feel 4 them 
55 billion dollars is a lot of dosh and it's crazy that lawmakers are worried about job losses in the gaming industry 
. I mean, we've seen companies like EA shift their focus to online games, which might actually be good for them... but at what cost? 
Are we really concerned about creative freedom or is it just a fancy way of saying "we don't want someone new coming in and changing things"? 
The thing is, if the FTC does decide to investigate this deal, it's gonna be interesting to see how they weigh the pros and cons. Will job losses outweigh the benefits of more investment? Only time (and some serious investigation) will tell 
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. I'm not saying the FTC should automatically reject the sale, but they do owe it to us to investigate these concerns and try to mitigate any potential harm 
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. And what really worries me is that these lawmakers are right to be concerned 
. We need someone to look out for the workers in this industry who are just trying to make a living 
. We don't want some big corporation ruining the gaming industry and leaving people without jobs 
. Let's hope they do some digging and figure out a way to keep it fair for everyone 
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I'm also worried that creative freedom will suffer if this deal goes through - who's gonna protect those talented devs and artists when the big dogs get too powerful? 
First off, why did these 46 Congress members decide to get together and write a letter to the FTC at the last minute? It's gotta be more than just coincidence. I mean, what are they trying to hide? Are they afraid that the acquisition will actually create some jobs or boost the gaming industry? 
but still it's scary to think about all those ppl losing their jobs 
hopefully they can find a way to make sure the industry doesn't get too dominated by one company 
. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to make money, but come on... can't we find ways to support our workers instead of just lining our pockets? 
