The $ 55 billion EA deal is available for investors, but it is uncertain to players

California – September 29: Electronic video games for arts are shown in a target store on September 29, 2025 in KNA, California. The Arts Electronic Arts Maker Maker is obtained in a $ 55 billion deal with Silver Lake Partners for private stocks, Affinity Partners, and the sovereign wealth fund in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia PIF. The deal can become the largest purchase of private stocks in history. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Emoxz)

Justin Sullivan Getty Images News | Gety pictures

Since Attel Electronic Arts (EA) begins to move to a private company, analysts are optimistic about a $ 55 billion deal – with one even She described it as a “big victory” For shareholders.

On Monday, EA announced that it would be acquired In a deal from all the inscription by the General Investment Fund in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Shareholders It will get 210 dollars per share, which is 17 % premium at the highest level in EA ever in August.

Although there is a window for 45 days To allow other proposalsMortingstar, the great stock analyst at MORNINGSTAR, wrote that the deal “is certain to close” without any organizational obstacles, given the relationship of the Saudi -favorable government with the current American administration, and a favorable installment for the shareholders.

But although Wall Street may celebrate, the gaming community may not share the same feelings. For years, the players have criticized EA’s lack of innovation and tactics of aggression.

Poor Games Compits

The EA portfolio includes great privileges such as EA SPORTS FC (formerly FIFA), SIMS and Battlefield. But although strong financial statements – EA has recorded operational profits every year since 2015 – has often extracted criticism from players.

In 2012 and 2013, the “worst company in America” was voted by the consumer defense site that has now ended, Consumerist.com. In 2018, USA today Its class is the fifth most hateful company in the United States. Dependence on live service models, fine transactionsAnd controversial mechanics such as looting boxes.

Games:

Live service games: Games that are released and updated continuously, and sometimes with limited time updates. Updates may be paid or free.

Micro -transactions: Purchases of the elements inside the game that users make with real money. Its elements can be either purely cosmetic or allow players to progress more quickly through a game.

Looting boxes: A container of the unknown random virtual elements of the player before opening it, and it can be purchased with a game in the game or real money.

EA also criticized the priorities of the consequences for new intellectual property. In internal note 2024 It was mentioned by IGNCEO Andrew Wilson stated that EA “will double the IP, sport and enormous communities online.”

In the same year, Inverse magazine on the Internet He wrote: “Perhaps the most common complaint is that EA fails to innovate,” noting the exaggerated SIMS 4 content packages, frequent sporty titles, and overwhelming sequences of old privileges.

The company was also The most declining comments on RedaitAfter she tried to defend her position on the long date that was captured to open content and characters in the Star Wars Battlefront II 2017 war, even after purchasing the luxury edition of the game.

Mechanics looted the game – although it is not exclusive to EA – led to a violent reaction from the players, Which leads to the investigation of European organizers Whether the feature is a gambling.

In November 2017, American Senator Chris Lee It was called “predatory practice” from EA. “This game is a casino on the Internet under the title of Star Wars designed to attract children to spending money. It is a trap,” he said at a press conference.

Creative reset or more of the same?

With no EA to the quarterly profit reports, the players may hope that the company will bear more creative risks. But analysts are divided.

“Of course, the company will be in a position that enables it to explore more creative games,” said Michael Pashter, the administrative director of Wedbush Securities. “But this is not a particularly good thing – especially if the current administration remains in place.”

Pachter expects EA to multiply the live service model and grow largely portable games under PIF.

“I think the Saudis will launch new mobile games for all EA SPORTS, SIMS and Battlefield titles,” said Batter

Michael Fotter, founder of F-Squared video game consulting, chanted this show. He pointed out that the deal will coincide with $ 20 billion of debt, which pushes it to the two more difficult folds in stable revenue flows such as “precise transactions, battle passes, FOMO (fear of loss) inventory (from) in fronts (game).”

The reserves usually indicate the front of a game store to sales of elements or battle permits within a limited time, which leads to the temptation of players to buy them quickly or miss.

Games:

Corridor CorridorA gradual system that rewards players with virtual elements to complete the different goals in the way of playing, and it may be presented in a limited period of time. Some battle permits can be purchased with real money.

Vuterter believes that EA will integrate around its safer privileges, such as SIMS, Battlefield and ATTLes, instead of a new IPS experience.

“It is unlikely to create the debts on top of them a shift in the strategy. Instead, it is possible that he will see themselves in titles that they believe have the largest revenue, even if they also have the greatest danger.”

He added: “I do not know how to serve EA this debt without the demobilization of workers, closing the studio, and perhaps selling IP.”

I don’t know how to serve EA this debt without the demobilization of workers, closing the studio, and perhaps selling IP.

Michael Food

Founder, F-Squared

But not all analysts are pessimistic. The Freedom Capital platform is believed by the free -enabled investment platform that the acquisition can improve the long -term quality of EA games.

“It provides EA’s opportunity to retract the general lights and invest in the games they sympathize with,” McCai said. He indicated that he will allow EA to try new things without “punishing” the shareholders if the game is not good.

“There is no need to worry about a significant decrease in your evaluation, because … one of your new nicknames did not succeed. So in reality, I think it might be a good quality for the release list,” McCai said.

David Cole, CEO of DFC Intelligence, added that in the short term, EA might think about selling some IPS to manage its debts. He cited the series “ComMand and Casher” as an example of a privilege of historical but limited commercial scope.

Another MainLine driving and oppression appeared in 2012, with a mobile phone game only after that in 2018.

But in the long run, the company will get the freedom to explore some other options and more risks.