Near the end of September, EA disclosed a $55 billion deal to take the third-party video game publisher private under a new ownership group including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, and the private equity firm Silver Lake. It’s also the largest leveraged buyout (LBO) of all time, and it will require EA to settle $20 billion in debt. According to several prominent analysts, the fastest way for EA to reach that number is by shedding studios and selling some of them off.
According to a report by Polygon, multiple analysts believe that BioWare is a prime candidate to be sold because of the studio’s struggles over the last decade. BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell far below EA’s expectations, and the studio was hit by numerous layoffs in the aftermath. A much smaller team at the studio is currently working on the next Mass Effect title, which may entice potential buyers.
EA is currently throwing its promotional muscle behind Battlefield 6, the first-person shooter that’s competing with Activision’s Call of Duty franchise. While that may mean DICE–the developer of the game’s multiplayer mode–is safe from being sold at the moment, analysts suggest that could change if Battlefield 6 under-performs.
This is an interesting development for EA and the gaming industry. It will be intriguing to see how this decision impacts their studios and future projects. Change can often lead to new opportunities, so it will be worth keeping an eye on.
it all unfolds. The potential shift could really impact the creative direction of franchises like Mass Effect and Battlefield. It’ll be interesting to see if they prioritize nurturing existing studios or focus on acquiring new talent.
Absolutely, the fate of studios like BioWare and DICE could lead to significant changes in their iconic franchises. It’ll be interesting to see how new leadership might influence the storytelling and gameplay styles we’ve come to love. This could also open the door for fresh ideas or collaborations that we haven’t seen before!