On June 13th, gamers protested with a funeral and mourning outside EA’s Orlando office. This protest was to voice their concerns about the EA Buyout in efforts to block it. There have been several other protests; however, this one stands out because it was in full Funeral Theme.
Players Alliance HQ
Images from Players Alliance HQ Instagram
The “Funeral for Gaming” Protest was organized by Players Alliance HQ. According to their Instagram profile, Players Alliance HQ is a group of “Gamers, devs & creators fighting to take gaming back from corporate greed. Join us to put passion back at the heart of gaming.” According to Player’s Alliance HQ’s Press Release, they have amassed over 70K Petition Signatures to stop the buyout and have hosted streams featuring Congressman Maxwell Frost and Streamer lilsimsie. The campaign has also been featured in media outlets such as ING, PC Gamer, and even the LA Times.
“Funeral for Gaming”
Images from Players Alliance HQ Instagram
The “Funeral for Gaming” was held outside of the EA Orlando Offices on June 13th at 11am. The Protesters were dressed in funeral- and Sims-themed attire and set up gravestones, flowers, a casket, and a 50-ft petition scroll with all 70K-plus signatures. According to the Players Alliance HQ’s Press Release;
Participants mourned what they say would be the consequences of the deal, including studio closures, rising costs, AI-driven layoffs, and threats to creative freedom in gaming. Gamers pointed to EA’s history of studio closures, rising prices and the growing unaffordability of gaming, the increased use of AI to cut developer jobs, and concerns that the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s proposed 93.4% ownership stake could give it unprecedented influence over creative decisions at one of the U.S.’s largest gaming studios, including games like The Sims which have long been recognized for inclusive storytelling and representation.”
The goal of the campaign is to call on federal regulators to block the buyout.
