The Sims franchise is marking a significant milestone as it celebrates its 25th anniversary with a plethora of exciting events, in-game surprises, and the highly anticipated return of two iconic titles. Dive in to discover all the festivities planned for this special occasion.
Happy 25th Birthday to The Sims!
Events and Freebies Galore
The Sims is pulling out all the stops for its 25th anniversary, showering players with a variety of events and goodies. Expect in-game freebies, a star-studded 25-hour livestream featuring beloved Simmers (Sims players), and the triumphant return of The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 on PC.
"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," stated The Sims Production Director Kevin Gibson in an interview with Xbox Wire. "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 without the unwavering support of players over the past two decades since its reveal in 1999, they wouldn't be where they are now.
"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 biggest announcement of the celebration is the return of the original The Sims and The Sims 2. Players can now revisit their roots with both titles, complete with all their respective DLCs, available for purchase on Steam or the EA store as a Birthday Bundle or individually.
This is a delightful treat for Simmers, as these first two titles were not readily available for purchase by the general public for nearly a decade. Even owners of the physical disc versions faced challenges running them on modern computers without significant modifications. EA has now eliminated these hurdles by releasing versions optimized for today's systems, a move eagerly awaited by fans for years.
In-Game Events for The Sims 4 and The Sims FreePlay
The Sims 4 is hosting the "Blast From The Past" event, reintroducing iconic items from earlier titles. Over four weeks, new items will be gradually added, including neon inflatable chairs in bright neon green or popping pink, a three-layer cake, a light-up dance floor for party nights, and even wired phones.
Meanwhile, The Sims FreePlay's Birthday Update will transport players back to the early 2000s with new Live Events such as "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
Kicking off the anniversary festivities, The Sims hosted a non-stop 25-hour livestream on February 4th, featuring a lineup of celebrities, streamers, fan-favorite builders, and storytellers who all share a passion for The Sims. Guests included Doja Cat, rapper Latto, drag queen duo Trixie Mattel and Katya, YouTubers Dan & Phil, Plumbella, TikTokers Angelo & Lexy, virtual streamer Ironmouse, and many more.
Simmers who missed the grand opening of the celebration can catch the entire recording on the official The Sims YouTube or Twitch channels.
