The Engadget Podcast EA, Xbox and the state of gaming in 2025 + Amazon’s new devices
Oct 2, 2025
A massive $55 billion buyout of EA could reshape the gaming industry, raising questions about creative risks and possible studio cuts. Meanwhile, Xbox is struggling with pricing issues and hardware confusion, while handheld devices like the ROG Ally face skepticism before launch. Exciting game releases like Final Fantasy Tactics and Hades II are explored for their improved gameplay. Additionally, Amazon unveils new devices that integrate AI features amid privacy concerns, and Google responds with updates to its Nest products.
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Transcript
Episode notes
EA Buyout Will Reshape Priorities
- The $55B EA buyout is the largest leveraged buyout in history and will saddle EA with massive debt.
- That debt and private ownership likely shift priorities toward steady revenue and cost cuts, not creative risk.
How Leveraged Buyouts Squeeze Creativity
- Leveraged buyouts place purchase debt onto the company's balance sheet, increasing pressure to cut costs and hit predictable returns.
- That dynamic often leads to layoffs, canceled projects, and less appetite for long-term creative investments.
Politics Behind Big Entertainment Deals
- Saudi and other geopolitical investors seek cultural capital by buying big entertainment assets.
- That shift can sanitize regimes' images while concentrating media ownership in politically fraught hands.
