EA's $55 Billion Buyout Loads $18 Billion in Debt, Mass Layoffs Expected

NewsData.io · United States · Aug 5, 2026

Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, leaving the company with $18 billion in debt and annual interest obligations of $1.8 billion. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reports EA has committed to cutting $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million in 'organizational efficiencies' — widely interpreted as mass layoffs. Single-player studios such as BioWare and Motive are considered most at risk, with IP sales and studio divestitures also on the table. The scale of the expected workforce reductions signals significant displacement in the gaming sector for staffing professionals tracking tech and creative industry demand.