"The Sims Marks 25 Years of Gameplay"

The Sims franchise is marking its 25th anniversary with a spectacular array of in-game events, a marathon 25-hour livestream, and the much-anticipated return of two iconic titles. Dive into the details of these celebrations below.

Happy 25th Birthday To The Sims!

Events And Freebies Galore

The Sims is pulling out all the stops for its 25th anniversary, offering players a plethora of events and freebies. This includes in-game goodies, a star-studded livestream showcasing the best of the Sims community, and the exciting re-release of The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 on PC.

Kevin Gibson, The Sims Production Director, shared with Xbox Wire, "Our incredible players have shown us that no one does life like The Sims, and we wanted to celebrate this journey we've been on together. 25 years ago, there was a game with an idea that made a big splash at E3, and look where we are today! We've been part of multiple generations and touched millions of lives." He emphasized that the unwavering support from players over the last two decades since the game's reveal in 1999 has been instrumental to their success.

"All of the Simmers from all of the years and all of the different ways to play The Sims, are part of this 25-year journey, and this is our way of saying thank you."

The Sims 1 And The Sims 2 Are Back

In the most thrilling announcement, players can now revisit the origins of the franchise. To celebrate its monumental 25th anniversary, The Sims and The Sims 2, along with all their respective DLCs, are now available for purchase on Steam or the EA store, either as a Birthday Bundle or individually.

This is a significant boon for Sims enthusiasts, as these foundational titles have been largely unavailable to the general public for nearly a decade. Even those with physical copies faced challenges running the games on modern systems without extensive modifications. EA has now eliminated these barriers by releasing updated versions compatible with current technology, a move that fans have eagerly awaited for years.

In-Game Events For The Sims 4 And The Sims FreePlay

The Sims 4 is hosting the "Blast From The Past" event, which will bring back iconic clothing, furniture, and decor from the earlier games. Over four weeks, players can expect new additions like neon inflatable chairs in vibrant neon green or popping pink, a three-layer cake, a light-up dance floor perfect for party nights, and even wired phones.

Meanwhile, The Sims FreePlay is rolling out its Birthday Update, transporting players back to the early 2000s. This update includes new Live Events such as "The One with the Coffee Shop" and "Reality Island", a new velour tracksuit, daily gifts for 25 days, and a Social Town update featuring a museum dedicated to the history of The Sims.

25 Hour Livestream For 25 Years

The anniversary festivities kicked off with a 25-hour livestream on February 4th, featuring a diverse lineup of celebrities, streamers, fan-favorite builders, and storytellers united by their love for The Sims. Notable guests included Doja Cat, rapper Latto, drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya, YouTubers Dan & Phil, Plumbella, TikTokers Angelo & Lexy, and virtual streamer Ironmouse, among others.

If you missed the live celebration, you can still catch the full recording on The Sims' official YouTube or Twitch channels.