EA CEO Andrew Wilson's Pay Rises 26% Amid Layoffs
The pay raise lands days before EA's $55 billion acquisition closes, with the same CEO staying in charge, sharpening scrutiny of how the company balances executive rewards against studio layoffs.
Key Facts
- Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson received approximately $38.6 million (about ¥6.3 billion) in total compensation for fiscal year 2026, a 26% increase from the previous year.
- Wilson's bonus, listed as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation, was $6.5 million (about ¥1.06 billion), roughly 2.3 times the prior year's amount.
- EA laid off staff at Full Circle in February 2026 and at Criterion, DICE, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studios in March 2026.
- EA's acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners is expected to complete on August 4, 2026, for approximately $55 billion.
- Wilson's compensation was about $25.6 million in fiscal 2024 and $30.5 million in fiscal 2025.
Reporting from 3 sources: Automaton, GameBusiness.jp, Game Spark.
Electronic Arts filed an amended Form 10-K/A with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, disclosing executive compensation for fiscal year 2026. CEO Andrew Wilson received approximately $38.6 million (about ¥6.3 billion), a 26% increase from the previous year. His bonus, listed as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation, was $6.5 million (about ¥1.06 billion), roughly 2.3 times the prior year's amount. The pay increase is attributed to strong performance of titles including 'Battlefield 6' and 'skate.', which met launch and player goals. However, EA conducted multiple layoffs in 2026: in February, Full Circle, the 'skate.' developer, cut staff, and in March, layoffs hit Criterion, DICE, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studios, the teams behind 'Battlefield 6'. The contrast between rising executive pay and job cuts has drawn criticism, with overseas media like PC Gamer and Reddit threads questioning the industry's treatment of developers. EA's acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners is set to complete on August 4, with Wilson remaining CEO.
Wilson's compensation has climbed steadily over three fiscal years: about $25.6 million in fiscal 2024, $30.5 million in fiscal 2025, and $38.6 million in fiscal 2026. The latest increase is larger than the prior year's bump. EA's filing attributes the bonus growth to milestone achievements, including 'Battlefield 6' launch success and 'skate.' reaching player goals in its fourth season through early access.
The layoffs occurred in the same fiscal year. Full Circle, the 'skate.' developer, cut staff in February as part of restructuring. In March, Criterion, DICE, Ripple Effect, and Motive Studios, all working on 'Battlefield 6', saw layoffs. PC Gamer's coverage, titled "After laying off Battlefield 6 developers, EA pays its CEO $38 million because Battlefield 6 did so well," sparked a Reddit thread with comments criticizing corporate practices and the game industry's treatment of developers.
EA's acquisition by a consortium of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, valued at about $55 billion, is expected to close on August 4. Wilson remains CEO, and the executive team is unchanged. The company's filing notes all regulatory approvals are in place.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.