US Congress Members Request FTC to Take Deeper Look at EA’s Acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s PIF

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Electronic Arts’ board has agreed to be acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, along with Affinity Partners and Silver Lake. However, over 40 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have asked the Federal Trade Commission to carefully examine the deal before it’s finalized. They’ve sent a letter to the FTC chairman, Andrew Fergusson, requesting a thorough review.

A group of lawmakers has written a letter expressing strong concerns about the potential purchase of Electronic Arts (EA) by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. They are worried about the deal’s impact on American workers, competition in the job market, and the future of the U.S. video game industry, and are asking for a careful review of the proposed acquisition. They are committed to protecting fair competition and American jobs.

Concerns have been raised about the video game industry’s history of job insecurity, with frequent layoffs reducing opportunities for workers. Specifically, EA has cut over 1,700 US jobs since 2023, contributing to a larger trend of over 35,000 layoffs across the industry since 2022. Adding to these concerns, the acquisition will leave EA with at least $20 billion in debt, which will likely push the company to cut costs even further.

The lawmakers also expressed worry that the deal would rely on at least $20 billion in borrowing. This could pressure the companies involved to cut costs through measures like layoffs, moving jobs overseas, reorganizations, or even closing studios. They believe these actions would put thousands of skilled American jobs at risk and further limit opportunities for software engineers, artists, writers, testers, and other important professionals in the industry.

The letter concludes by emphasizing that workers should have a fair and competitive job market where their abilities are recognized. The lawmakers also believe Electronic Arts is poised to become a leading force in the industry through new opportunities for growth and expanded influence.

We strongly encourage the Commission to carefully examine how this acquisition could affect workers, specifically looking at Microsoft’s potential to control wages, the possibility of job losses, how concentrated the job market is in affected areas and industries, and whether owning multiple companies impacts workers’ opportunities. Workers deserve a fair and competitive job market that recognizes their value.

Microsoft’s planned $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts has been approved by EA’s owners, but still needs the go-ahead from government regulators. A recent letter from members of the US Congress asks the Federal Trade Commission to carefully review the deal, potentially blocking it.

The acquisition is projected to finish by the first quarter of 2027, after which the company’s stock will no longer be publicly traded. Current Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson is anticipated to remain in his role, and the company will continue to operate from its headquarters in Redwood City, California.

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2026-01-28 15:41