The Sims Marks 25 Years of Gameplay

The Sims franchise is marking its 25th anniversary with a series of exciting 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 free in-game goodies. The festivities include 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.

In an interview with Xbox Wire, The Sims Production Director Kevin Gibson expressed his gratitude, stating, "Our incredible players have shown us that no one does life like The Sims, and we wanted to celebrate this journey we have 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 support from players over the past two decades since the game's reveal in 1999 has been instrumental in reaching this milestone.

"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

The highlight of the anniversary is the return of the original The Sims and The Sims 2, now available for purchase on Steam and the EA store. These classic titles, complete with all their respective DLCs, can be bought as a Birthday Bundle or individually.

This is a significant moment for the Sims community, as these games have been largely unavailable for nearly a decade. Even those with physical copies faced challenges running them on modern systems. EA has addressed this by releasing updated versions compatible with today's computers, fulfilling a long-standing wish of many Simmers.

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

The Sims 4 is hosting the "Blast From The Past" event, which will introduce iconic items from earlier games over four weeks. Expect to see neon inflatable chairs in vibrant green and pink, a three-layer cake, a light-up dance floor, and even wired phones.

Meanwhile, The Sims FreePlay's Birthday Update transports players back to the early 2000s with new Live Events like "The One with the Coffee Shop" and "Reality Island." Players can enjoy a new velour tracksuit, daily gifts for 25 days, and a Social Town update featuring a museum dedicated to The Sims' history.

25 Hour Livestream For 25 Years

The anniversary kicked off with a 25-hour livestream on February 4th, featuring a lineup of celebrities, streamers, and fan-favorite builders and storytellers who share a passion 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 event, you can catch the full recording on The Sims' official YouTube and Twitch channels.