Joshua Rivera

Culture writer and critic who covered the EA buyout in Vanity Fair, discussing cultural concerns, soft-power motivations, and the broader industry trends shaping reactions to the sale.

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Oct 29, 2025 • 34min

What happens when private equity becomes video gaming's 'final boss'

Kyle Orland, a senior gaming editor at Ars Technica, discusses EA’s evolution from a developer-centric studio to a gaming giant monetizing through franchises and microtransactions. David Cole, CEO of DFC Intelligence, explores the implications of Saudi PIF and others' investments, raising concerns about cultural influence in gaming. Joshua Rivera, a culture writer, reflects on how this buyout could shift game content and gamer trust, linking it to broader trends in the industry that favor free-to-play models over traditional titles.

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