EA Going Private

These are articles posted elsewhere but they are relevant to the collection of information here.

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-ai-divide-roiling-video-game-giant-electronic-arts-2025-10

And Stability AI buyout

https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ea-partners-with-the-company-behind-stable-diffusion-to-make-games-with-ai-222253069.html

So many people saying AI will hinder us. Seems a superficial assessment to me. Why would AI cause us as a species to do less, achieve less or strive for less?

AI is another tool on our belt. Another tool we learn and adapt to our uses. Another tool to build from. With such a large spectrum AI offers us a tool like none other before. One that cannot only draw from and build from our collective knowledge but one that can add to that knowledge. There is no reason a Human Intelligence can’t build off the knowledge of an Artificial Intelligence the same way we build from one another. Seems more like a beginning than an end.

Just an Obtuse Overactive Octopus here. 🐙

Odog123 said:

Interesting read about a creator boycott over the buyout.

 

https://www.pcgamesn.com/the-sims-4/ea-creator-network-boycott

Personally, I just want to game and maybe make something investing in the mean time. If these people honestly want to influence Saudi Arabia human rights policies the best way to do it is through their money. Similar to this buyout. Saudi Arabia is working as hard as they can to diversify beyond oil for their future. Once their money is tied to other industries and products that reach internationally to nations dominated by other societal norms they will have to adapt to survive and thrive. Short sighted at best but their protest clearly illustrates the point. Unless that’s not the point they are trying to achieve at all.

So… Keep at it?

 

Alternatively, I’ve been investigating AI for gaming because of its ties to the EA deal. Not my expertise at all but very interesting and potentially exciting for gaming.

This whole AI thing EA’s been talking about is interesting, and it could have some real implications for Madden down the road. They’ve got an internal research group called SEED that’s been experimenting with machine learning,  basically teaching computers how to handle stuff like testing, animations, and even environment creation. On top of that, EA’s been working with companies like Stability AI to help generate art and assets faster.

For Madden specifically (and NCAA), EA says AI and ML have been used to help generate player head shapes, uniforms, and stadiums, giving artists fewer base models to start from and letting AI suggest variations automatically.

What that means for Madden isn’t some overnight revolution, but it could change the way the game gets built piece by piece. Things like uniforms, stadiums, and player models might be made faster and with more detail since the tools are doing most of the grunt work.

If this tech works the way they’re hoping, it could be a real turning point for Madden’s development cycle. But I still think the Frostbite engine is a major bottleneck. EA’s gotten way too animation-dependent, and they keep trying to fix gameplay issues with newer, and often glitchier, animations.

At the end of the day, I just want to play a semi-realistic football game. It doesn’t have to look real, it just needs to feel real.

Mythomaniac said:

This whole AI thing EA’s been talking about is interesting, and it could have some real implications for Madden down the road. They’ve got an internal research group called SEED that’s been experimenting with machine learning,  basically teaching computers how to handle stuff like testing, animations, and even environment creation. On top of that, EA’s been working with companies like Stability AI to help generate art and assets faster.

For Madden specifically (and NCAA), EA says AI and ML have been used to help generate player head shapes, uniforms, and stadiums, giving artists fewer base models to start from and letting AI suggest variations automatically.

What that means for Madden isn’t some overnight revolution, but it could change the way the game gets built piece by piece. Things like uniforms, stadiums, and player models might be made faster and with more detail since the tools are doing most of the grunt work.

If this tech works the way they’re hoping, it could be a real turning point for Madden’s development cycle. But I still think the Frostbite engine is a major bottleneck. EA’s gotten way too animation-dependent, and they keep trying to fix gameplay issues with newer, and often glitchier, animations.

At the end of the day, I just want to play a semi-realistic football game. It doesn’t have to look real, it just needs to feel real.

A new engine largely designed and built by AI? That could be interesting. Couldn’t really get any worse, right? That’s probably just a lack of imagination on my part.

The rumblings from Elizabeth Warren and others regarding the buyout seem to be fading and aren’t seeming to materialize further. That may be because they are otherwise busy or could also indicate the answers they were given were deemed satisfactory. The deal might still end up a bargaining chip but Wall Streets continued confidence helps overcome political obstacles and difficulties.

The overvaluation combined with a large loan for big liquidity is looking more and more like a move for major acquisition or multiples. If so, It could even spur others in the industry to make similar moves and acquisitions to stay competitive.

https://inworld.ai/blog/future-of-ai-in-gaming-generative-ai-companies

https://lumenalta.com/insights/10-essential-ai-game-development-tools

https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/these-are-the-4-best-ai-generators-for-game-art-according-to-pros

Given EA already moved on Stability, which is number one on the third link. Other workflow AI, ops and development AI and AI game tools could be on the table. I’ve got a lot of research to do here.

On the esports side a deal fell through with Saudi Arabia and the IOC. Leaving both saying they will pursue and host separate games but in reality the breakdown seems to throw a major wrench in the immediate future of any potential major events. As everything seems to have been placed on hold for “unspecified” terms. Maybe someone has a backup plan?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c803ggn89n5o.amp

Just an Eager Energized Eel here⚡️

Maybe AI could fix the pc version that has been unusable in h2h for 10 days now

Interesting info from today

I like it when they call it the consortium…  

https://thegamepost.com/ea-employees-creative-control-ai-saudi-buyout/

“We will maintain a thoughtful, steady approach to AI. AI is a tool to empower our people to put creativity first by reimagining workflows and amplifying the creative power of our teams. This transaction will allow us to invest heavily in our business to accelerate innovation and unlock new growth opportunities.”

“no immediate changes to your job, team, or daily work”

The second statement was an interesting addition, I thought. You could look at this as good or bad. It essentially implies there will be changes. Just not yet.

Odog123 said:

Interesting info from today

I like it when they call it the consortium…  

https://thegamepost.com/ea-employees-creative-control-ai-saudi-buyout/

“We will maintain a thoughtful, steady approach to AI. AI is a tool to empower our people to put creativity first by reimagining workflows and amplifying the creative power of our teams. This transaction will allow us to invest heavily in our business to accelerate innovation and unlock new growth opportunities.”

“no immediate changes to your job, team, or daily work”

The second statement was an interesting addition, I thought. You could look at this as good or bad. It essentially implies there will be changes. Just not yet.

I was doing some nostalgia farming the other day and remembered something I once wished for on the Madden Wishlist, a true individual AI for every player.

Right now, Madden’s AI feels like a hive mind. Everyone reacts in sync, always where they’re “supposed” to be, instead of thinking or adapting in real time. Imagine if each player actually had their own AI personality or awareness level, Ed Reed diagnosing plays like a genius while a rookie DB might get baited or blown off an assignment.

That’s the kind of AI innovation I hoped for, where “awareness” actually means something on the field.

So when I read that statement about “AI empowering creativity” and “no immediate changes,” I couldn’t help but think, if they ever do invest in AI the right way, maybe this is exactly the kind of step Madden needs. Smarter, more human gameplay.

I don't think AI will set us back, I think it will propel us into the future of gaming much faster than we anticipate.

They already had a monopoly on NFL video games so I guess it makes sense.  Most shares in a company like this are owned  by wealthy people already who dont even play video games.