Starfield and Deus Ex actor has done "a lot" of work with EA, but isn't sitting idly by as rumored AI-powered cost-cutting plans surface following controversial $55 billion buyout: "F*** you"

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It's been claimed that investors are hoping to use AI to save money and help manage the $20 billion of debt EA is set to take on

Deus Ex Mankind Divided
(Image credit: Square Enix)

EA is set to be acquired for $55 billion – assuming the deal goes through successfully – and it's been claimed that its new investors are looking to use AI to cut costs and boost profits. This obviously isn't a concept that everyone is thrilled about, including Starfield and Deus Ex actor Elias Toufexis, who's made his thoughts very clear despite doing "a lot" of work with the company.

The big EA deal will see the company take on $20 billion of debt in order to help finance the buyout, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you that's a very significant amount of money. EA employees are worried about layoffs – one ex-BioWare veteran thinks that situation is "likely," and we may see a "dramatic reduction in people" thanks to the debt, which may prompt significant cost-saving measures.

Responding to these claims, Toufexis – who voices Adam Jensen in Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, Sam Coe in Starfield, and more – initially appears to take a more diplomatic approach on Twitter. "I work for EA a lot so I should be careful here," he begins, before quickly adding his true feelings: "Fuck you."

As one fan replies, "Very subtle."

Assuming these claims are true, it's not clear exactly how AI is planned to be used within the company. It may not result in us suddenly seeing a load of AI-generated EA games, for example, but it's still concerning to imagine creative processes being taken over by AI, or humans losing their jobs after being replaced with a soulless program.

CEO Andrew Wilson has previously been very flattering of the technology, however, saying that "AI in its different forms has always been central to this creative journey," and that "this remarkable technology is not merely a buzzword for us – it's the very core of our business."

Former Dragon Age director says it's "hard to imagine" BioWare pivoting from "very progressive messaging to having the reverse" following EA's $55 billion buyout, and public perception not being "apocalyptically bad" if it did.

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Catherine Lewis
Catherine Lewis
Deputy News Editor

I'm GamesRadar+'s Deputy News Editor, working alongside the rest of the news team to deliver cool gaming stories that we love. After spending more hours than I can count filling The University of Sheffield's student newspaper with Pokemon and indie game content, and picking up a degree in Journalism Studies, I started my career at GAMINGbible where I worked as a journalist for over a year and a half. I then became TechRadar Gaming's news writer, where I sourced stories and wrote about all sorts of intriguing topics. In my spare time, you're sure to find me on my Nintendo Switch or PS5 playing through story-driven RPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles and Persona 5 Royal, nuzlocking old Pokemon games, or going for a Victory Royale in Fortnite.

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