The Sims franchise is celebrating a momentous 25th anniversary with exciting in-game events, a massive 25-hour livestream, and the highly anticipated return of two beloved titles! Discover all the anniversary festivities below.
Happy 25th Birthday, The Sims!
A Celebration Overflowing with Events and Freebies
The Sims' 25th anniversary is being marked with a plethora of in-game gifts, a star-studded livestream showcasing the best of the Simmer community, and the triumphant return of The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 to PC.
"Our incredible players have shown us that no one does life like The Sims, and we wanted to celebrate this journey we've shared," Kevin Gibson, The Sims Production Director, shared with Xbox Wire. "Twenty-five years ago, a game with a groundbreaking idea made a splash at E3, and look how far we've come! We've touched multiple generations and millions of lives." He emphasized that this success wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of players over the past two decades.
"Every Simmer, across all the years and diverse ways of playing The Sims, is part of this 25-year journey, and this is our way of saying thank you."
The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 Make a Comeback!
The biggest announcement? Simmers can now revisit the very beginning! To celebrate the 25th anniversary, the original The Sims and The Sims 2, complete with all their DLC, are available for purchase on Steam and the EA store, both as a Birthday Bundle or individually.
This is a significant event for long-time fans, as these titles haven't been readily available for purchase for almost a decade. Even with physical copies, running them on modern computers required considerable technical workarounds. EA has eliminated this hurdle by releasing versions compatible with current systems—a highly anticipated re-release for Simmers.
In-Game Events for The Sims 4 and The Sims FreePlay
The Sims 4 features the "Blast From The Past" event, introducing iconic clothing, furniture, and décor from earlier games. Over four weeks, new items will be added, including neon inflatable chairs, 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 series' 2000s origins, with new Live Events ("The One with the Coffee Shop" and "Reality Island"), a new velour tracksuit, 25 days of daily gifts, and a Social Town update including a museum showcasing The Sims' history.
A 25-Hour Livestream for 25 Years
The anniversary celebration kicked off with a non-stop 25-hour livestream on February 4th, featuring a remarkable lineup of celebrities, streamers, and beloved Simmers. Guests included Doja Cat, Latto, Trixie Mattel and Katya, Dan & Phil, Plumbella, Angelo & Lexy, Ironmouse, and many more.
Missed the livestream? Catch the entire recording on The Sims' official YouTube and Twitch channels.