Analysts Predict EA May Sell DICE If Battlefield 6 Underwhelms: Forecasts on the Companys Future

At the end of last month, news broke regarding one of the largest acquisitions in the history of the gaming industry: the Saudi Public Investment Fund, in partnership with companies **Silver Lake** and **Affinity Partners**, plans to purchase **Electronic Arts** for $55 billion. Upon completion of this deal, the publisher will be delisted from the stock exchange and will come under the control of investors. However, experts caution that the implications could be far from straightforward.

If you are concerned about the future of EA franchises, you’re not alone. This unprecedented deal raises questions about the fate of the developer’s studios and major titles, including **BioWare**, **The Sims**, **Apex Legends**, and **Battlefield**. While analysts have differing forecasts, they unanimously agree that **EA** is likely to cut costs and begin offloading its less profitable divisions.

Some investment firms, such as **Freedom Capital Markets**, believe that the acquisition of **Electronic Arts** could relieve the company of shareholder pressure and allow its studios to venture into more risky and creative projects. In other words, without the need to appease public investors, **EA** might feel freer to explore unconventional ideas and experimental games.

However, not all analysts share this optimistic view. Rhys Elliott, the head of market analytics at **Alinea Analytics**, points to a significant financial hurdle — **EA** will need to manage approximately $20 billion in debt. This aspect of the deal has been rated a «B,» which indicates a low credit rating often referred to as «junk debt.» These types of loans are considered extremely risky and are nearly impossible to repay in full.

Still, **EA** remains a major player, boasting a substantial cash flow (estimated by Elliott to be around $2 billion) and occupying a leading position in the North American market. According to **Newzoo**, **EA** ranks as the number one publisher in 37 regions, with 31% of active gamers regularly engaging with at least one of its titles.

David Cole, president of market research firm **DFC Intelligence**, believes that **EA** is unlikely to take bold creative risks in the short term. Historically, such acquisitions have led to cost cuts and the divestment of non-core assets. In the long term, the absence of public shareholders could allow **EA** to pursue more creative and risky projects. But for now, the company will likely focus on its key revenue sources and seek maximum profit from selling off secondary studios and franchises.

The **EA Sports** franchises are unlikely to face closure or a complete overhaul. David Cole anticipates that the company will aim to expand these series, perhaps through new modes, content, or platforms, to boost profits and retain players.

Nonetheless, the effectiveness of such a strategy remains questionable. Experts from **Freedom Capital Markets**, who viewed the acquisition news positively, noted that **Electronic Arts**’ business model heavily relies on microtransactions and annual sports game releases. This can be profitable when things run smoothly but turns risky when sales decline. Once acquired, **EA** may find itself in the same predicament as before, only now it must manage $20 billion in debt instead of investor pressure.

More aggressive monetization could potentially increase revenue from these franchises, but it doesn’t guarantee success. For instance, **Apex Legends**: in 2024, **EA** attempted to ramp up monetization, leading to a drop in player numbers and decreased revenue projections, although some changes were later reversed.

At first glance, underperforming service games in a saturated market might become areas that **EA** would abandon to manage its debt. However, Cole believes that the company will look for opportunities for creative risk in such projects. This is a potentially lucrative segment with growth prospects, and it is likely where **EA** will focus some of its efforts in the coming years.

**Apex Legends** has already generated significant profits for **EA**. According to the company, since its launch in 2019, the game has made over $2 billion. However, this does not guarantee a stable future. David Cole points out that even a successful game can be sold; if a favorable offer arises, **EA** might sell **Apex Legends** or even the entire **Respawn** studio, regardless of the current profitability of the project.

As for **DICE**, experts agree that the studio’s future is directly tied to the success of **Battlefield 6**. **Freedom Capital Markets** suggests that **EA** views this installment as an experiment. This shooter could help the company break away from the sports model and attract an audience it has struggled to reach.

Cole adds that the company will evaluate the franchise’s potential based on its ability to compete with **Call of Duty** and whether **Battlefield 6** can gain popularity. If **Electronic Arts** does not see long-term potential, **DICE** could be sold off.

According to the analyst, **EA** will likely selectively divest studios and franchises. Smaller teams with limited profitable projects, such as **Criterion**, are more likely to be sold than closed. Selling them appears more appealing than shutting them down, but it is typically accompanied by budget cuts and stringent cost reductions.

Rhys Elliott expects numerous layoffs outside of **EA Sports**, especially in studios not focused on service games. Additionally, the company may lose talent due to the departure of skilled employees protesting human rights violations by the new owners of **EA**.

David Cole suggests that **EA** will likely concentrate on selling off smaller projects from the **Maxis** studio, like **SimCity** and **Spore**. However, the company will only part with **The Sims** if an exceptionally high offer is made.

Moreover, according to the analyst, significant changes in **The Sims 4** are unlikely, primarily for economic reasons: between August 2024 and August 2025, the game was the fourth most profitable for **EA**, following its main sports franchises. In 2023, the company reported that over 70 million gamers actively played **The Sims 4**, and after transitioning the title to a free model, the number of new users saw a noticeable increase. Furthermore, sales of expansions reached record highs.

When it comes to **BioWare**, analysts generally agree that the studio will likely not remain part of **Electronic Arts** once the deal is finalized. Rhys Elliott noted that the legendary company has been «in the crosshairs» of **EA** following a decade of problematic releases. The studio’s latest project, **Dragon Age: The Veilguard**, has faced a challenging development cycle, multiple directional shifts, and failed to meet even 50% of the expected player count according to **EA**’s internal forecasts.

David Cole regards **BioWare** and its franchises as «prime candidates» for sale — either separately or as a whole asset.

The acquisition of **Electronic Arts** is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, which begins on April 1, 2026. It is possible that **EA** will start layoffs and preparations for selling off parts of its assets before that point, but Rhys Elliott predicts that job cuts and reduced spending will continue through 2028 and possibly beyond.