Key Takeaways
- • Avi Lewis, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP), publicly blamed private equity for BioWare's closure, quoting on Bluesky: "Buy up businesses, run them into the ground, and rip them apart for short-term profit."
- • Lewis called for BioWare's developers to be given "the first opportunity - and the federal support - to buy it and run it themselves."
- • The closure followed EA's leveraged buyout by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group and a private equity firm linked to Jared Kushner, with roughly 400 employees losing jobs across several EA studios.
- • The statement reflects a growing willingness among politicians to address video game industry issues, including consumer rights and labor.
Summary
Avi Lewis, head of Canada's New Democratic Party, criticized the closure of BioWare by Electronic Arts, describing the outcome as a product of private equity ownership. In a post on Bluesky, Lewis wrote: "This is private equity, this is what it does. Buy up businesses, run them into the ground, and rip them apart for short-term profit." According to Eurogamer, he went further, arguing that the studio's developers should be given the first opportunity, with federal support, to purchase BioWare and run it independently.
The closure came shortly after EA was acquired through a record-breaking leveraged buyout led by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group and a private equity firm associated with Jared Kushner, a son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Eurogamer reported that the shutdown of BioWare was followed by the loss of 400 jobs across several EA studios, including Respawn, Maxis, and Full Circle.
The article notes that political attention to video game industry issues has grown in recent years. It cites a Mexican lawmaker who in September pushed for stronger consumer rights for digital goods after Sony's move away from physical discs, and British parliamentary discussion of Concord's rapid shutdown and Rockstar's tribunal involving fired workers. Eurogamer suggests a newer generation of digitally aware politicians and the need to appeal to younger voters are contributing to this trend.
Lewis was not alone in responding. Eurogamer reports that figures from Larian, CD Projekt Red, and Warren Spector also expressed sadness, frustration, and support for the affected employees.
The closure came shortly after EA was acquired through a record-breaking leveraged buyout led by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group and a private equity firm associated with Jared Kushner, a son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Eurogamer reported that the shutdown of BioWare was followed by the loss of 400 jobs across several EA studios, including Respawn, Maxis, and Full Circle.
The article notes that political attention to video game industry issues has grown in recent years. It cites a Mexican lawmaker who in September pushed for stronger consumer rights for digital goods after Sony's move away from physical discs, and British parliamentary discussion of Concord's rapid shutdown and Rockstar's tribunal involving fired workers. Eurogamer suggests a newer generation of digitally aware politicians and the need to appeal to younger voters are contributing to this trend.
Lewis was not alone in responding. Eurogamer reports that figures from Larian, CD Projekt Red, and Warren Spector also expressed sadness, frustration, and support for the affected employees.
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