EA (Electronic Arts) board sold their 24 year old iconic ‘Sims’ game franchise to various parties earlier this year. The acquisition agreement was approved on September 29- selling the Sims franchise to investors including Saudi PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This deal made EA roughly $55 billion. The game franchise of 4 games plus many spin-offs is arguably one of most popular games created by EA, having sold over 100 million copies and has been receiving billions of dollars in revenue for the company since the release of the Sims 4 in 2014. With the Sims having gone free-to-play in October 2022, the game has garnered an even larger player base over the past few years.

So, what has even some of the most Sim obsessed players abandoning the game? Several of the top Sims 4 creators- including Youtubers and streamers such as LilSimsie, James Turner, and Plumbella- have left EA’s creator network due to ethical concerns regarding the buyers. Those who are part of the EA Creator Network work with the Sims to promote their new packs, sometimes even before release dates. Being a life simulation game, the Sims has taken pride in its inclusivity- including cultural items and LGBTQ+ representation. PIF (Public Investing Fund) is a Saudi Arabia based company. The government in Saudi Arabia has been criticized in the past for human-rights issues, lack of LGBTQ protection, and censorship. This raises concern on whether the Sims will continue to support the individuality and self expression that has drawn in so many of its players. Many worry the game may become censored, removing the representation that has allowed the community to come together and support one another for so many years.

Private investors- such as the companies that have acquired the Sims- are also more susceptible to cost cuts, restructuring, layoffs, and aggressive monetization. With the Sims 4 already amassing a large amount of DLCs, players worry the game may become too profit focused.

With the possibility of the beloved franchise being stripped of everything it stands for, there’s no telling what is in store for the game and its future.