r/masseffect • u/Rondine1990 • Aug 05 '26

NEWS Its official, Saudi-led group bought EA...

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/aug/05/video-game-maker-ea-bought-by-saudi-led-group

I honestly fear for the open-minded future of our franchise. Mass Effect was a big part of my life, and I loved that it tackled topics that might be controversial in its own way. It was never in your face, but subtle enough to be believable... especially with the choice of a badass female Shepard.

Let's hope they don't meddle too much, too quickly...

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u/SilverBudget1172 Aug 05 '26

If I remember correctly, Saudi Arabia is using oil revenues to maintain the country's income level through investment portfolios, specifically in entertainment. They want Saudi Arabia to be a hub for sports, leisure, and esports. They bought EA for the sports licenses; judging by their behavior, they don't care as long as it generates profit. It's main focus in the industry is on anything related to sports or competitive gaming.

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u/mrmasturbate Aug 05 '26

I hope that means they'll stop buying all kinds of non-sports studios only to ruin them

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u/SilverBudget1172 Aug 05 '26

They're not like Xbox, I honestly prefer the Saudis; they just acquire and focus what they have on their own interests, but they don't significantly alter how the studios operate as long as they're profitable.