US lawmakers are calling for stricter oversight of Electronic Arts' $55 billion sale to a Saudi-backed investment fund, citing potential negative impacts on workers and the industry as a whole. A group of 46 Democratic House members have written to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging it to conduct a "thorough review" of the proposed acquisition.
The lawmakers are concerned that the deal could lead to increased layoffs, worsen an already unstable gaming industry, and give the new owners even more control over wages. They specifically want regulators to examine how this acquisition will affect labor markets, including the potential for post-transaction job losses, concentration in certain geographic areas, and the impact of cross-ownership on worker outcomes.
The letter, which has gained support from both the Communications Workers of America union and the United Video Games union, expresses a desire to ensure that any path forward protects jobs and preserves creative freedom. The sale is set to close in the first quarter of 2027, but lawmakers are pushing for more scrutiny before then.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, lawmakers are taking notice and demanding greater oversight to protect workers and promote fair competition.
The lawmakers are concerned that the deal could lead to increased layoffs, worsen an already unstable gaming industry, and give the new owners even more control over wages. They specifically want regulators to examine how this acquisition will affect labor markets, including the potential for post-transaction job losses, concentration in certain geographic areas, and the impact of cross-ownership on worker outcomes.
The letter, which has gained support from both the Communications Workers of America union and the United Video Games union, expresses a desire to ensure that any path forward protects jobs and preserves creative freedom. The sale is set to close in the first quarter of 2027, but lawmakers are pushing for more scrutiny before then.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, lawmakers are taking notice and demanding greater oversight to protect workers and promote fair competition.
this is a huge deal and i'm all about the gamers, but we gotta think about the future of the industry and the workers who make it happen. i've seen so many devs struggle with game development and it's all because of these big corp acquisitions. if this sale goes through, it could get even worse 
we need more regulation, like, ASAP!
if ya ask me. all these big corps gettin' bought out by rich dudes with questionable motives... i mean, what's the point of even havin' a watchdog if they're just gonna let it slide? 
the gaming industry is already pretty sketchy when it comes to pay and benefits, so we don't need some Saudi-backed investor comin' in and makin' it worse... 
gotta stand up for those workers and make sure they're protected 
And it's weird that they only wrote to the FTC now, like what took them so long? 
especially when it comes to gaming, which is such a huge part of our lives right now 
. The lawmakers are totally on point for pushing back and making sure that whoever buys EA has to follow some rules 
. It's all about fairness and protecting the people who make this industry so amazing 
. Can't wait to see what happens next! 
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. I mean, can't we just make sure everyone gets a fair shake? It seems to me that EA is already making enough money, so what's the rush to sell out to some Saudi-backed fund? 
. And it's not just the workers who will be affected, but also the gaming community as a whole. We need to keep an eye on this acquisition and make sure that our creative freedom isn't sacrificed for the sake of profit 
. The FTC needs to be super thorough with their review, like, we can't have a situation where one company has too much control over wages and jobs... that's just not right 
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. We need more scrutiny on these big deals to ensure they're benefiting everyone, not just a select few 
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