"A movement known as the Players Alliance HQ has announced its intent to "raid" EA's headquarters on May 11 at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET. The goal is to denounce Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) buyout of the publisher, with cosplaying gamers planning to unravel a 50-foot scroll of over 70,000 petition signatures on the Madden football field at the center of the campus. There appears to be a whole performance involved in the protest as well, with gamers dressing in suits and top hats portraying the "corporate villains" behind the deal."
"Further, a giant health bar prop will slowly deplete as supporters digitally engage with the protest, and a loot-box demonstration will reveal a range of prizes like mass layoffs, studio closures, and aggressive monetization. According to the press release, Players Alliance HQ fears that, should the $55 billion deal go through (which would saddle EA with $20 billion in debt), the company could face pressure to cut jobs, replace employees with AI, and institute price hikes to recoup the losses of the buyout."
""EA, one of the world's largest video game publishers, is the target of a proposed $55 billion leveraged buyout that would hand 93% ownership to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the remaining stake split between Silver Lake and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners," Players Alliance HQ wrote. "The deal would place $20 billion in debt directly onto EA, a common private equity tactic that shifts financial risk onto the acquired company rather than the buyers.""
Gamers upset by Saudi Arabia’s $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts plan to protest at the company’s Redwood, California headquarters on May 11. The Players Alliance HQ movement intends to “raid” the headquarters at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET. Protesters will cosplay and stage a performance featuring a 50-foot scroll with over 70,000 petition signatures, corporate-villain portrayals, a giant health bar prop that depletes during digital engagement, and a loot-box demonstration showing potential outcomes. The stated concerns include job cuts, replacing employees with AI, and price hikes to recoup buyout losses. The deal would give Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund 93% ownership and place $20 billion in debt onto EA.
Read at GameSpot
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