The Sims franchise is marking its 25th anniversary with an array 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 celebrating its 25th anniversary with a plethora of events and goodies for players. This includes in-game freebies, a star-studded livestream featuring beloved Simmers (Sims players), and the grand reintroduction 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've been on together," said 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 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
Kicking off with the most significant announcement, players can now revisit the origins of the franchise. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the original The Sims and The Sims 2, complete with all their respective DLCs, are now available for purchase on Steam or the EA store, either as a Birthday Bundle or separately.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Simmers, as the first two titles have not been readily available for purchase for nearly a decade. Even those with physical disc versions faced challenges running the games on modern computers without extensive modifications. EA has now addressed this issue by releasing versions compatible with modern systems, a move that Simmers 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 introduce iconic clothing, furniture, and decor from the earlier titles. Over four weeks, new items will be added to the game, 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 series' humble beginnings in the 2000s. This update includes new Live Events like "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 that showcases The Sims through the years.
25 Hour Livestream For 25 Years
To launch the anniversary celebration, The Sims hosted a non-stop 25-hour livestream on February 4th, featuring dozens of celebrities, streamers, fan-favorite builders, and storytellers who 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.
