Electronic Arts has become a private company following a leveraged buyout involving Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, private equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The transaction leaves EA carrying $18 billion in debt and approximately $1.8 billion in annual interest payments.
That financial burden is expected to make cost reduction a central priority. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, EA has told investors it plans to cut annual costs by $700 million.
About $170 million of that target is described as “organisational efficiencies”. In practical terms, that wording could signal substantial job losses. EA is already estimated to have eliminated about 970 positions during the past two years.
EA’s annual EBITDA is around $1.5 billion, which should be enough to service the interest payments. But the publisher has told debt investors that it will cut $700 million in annual costs, including $170 million in “organisational efficiencies”.
The company has also been encouraging staff to use artificial intelligence tools, arguing that they can improve productivity. In 2025, EA told investors that AI-assisted game-code development and other operating changes could deliver $100 million in savings.
EA is reviewing its game portfolio as part of the broader cost-cutting program. That process could result in projects being cancelled, although the supplied information does not identify which titles may be affected.
Employees are not the only group facing uncertainty. Players may eventually see the financial pressure through additional in-game advertising or more aggressive monetisation. Earlier this year, EA announced EA Advertising, a platform intended to connect brands with audiences through digital and real-world experiences across its worldwide games portfolio.
For arcade and gaming businesses, publisher decisions like these can influence which modern titles remain visible in the wider market. Keep up with related arcade and gaming news, or explore RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide when comparing home entertainment options.
EA’s next announced release is Madden NFL 27, scheduled for next week.
Readers interested in dedicated gaming hardware can also browse arcade machines, consider space-saving bartop arcades, or review arcade parts for maintenance and upgrades.
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