The Sims Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

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 fan-favorite titles. Dive in to discover all the celebratory details.

Happy 25th Birthday To The Sims!

Events And Freebies Galore

The Sims is pulling out all the stops for its 25th anniversary, offering a plethora of events and goodies for its dedicated community of players, known affectionately as Simmers. Expect in-game freebies, a star-studded livestream showcasing the best of The Sims community, and the thrilling return 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 towards the community. "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," he said. Reflecting on the game's history, Gibson added, "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 its reveal in 1999 has been pivotal 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," Gibson concluded.

The Sims 1 And The Sims 2 Are Back

Kicking off the celebrations with a bang, players can now revisit the roots of the franchise. In honor of its 25th anniversary, the original The Sims and The Sims 2, along with all their respective DLCs, are now available for purchase on Steam or the EA store. You can grab them as part of a Birthday Bundle or individually.

This is a dream come true for Simmers, as these first two titles have been out of reach for the general public for nearly a decade. Even those with physical copies faced challenges running them on modern computers without extensive modifications. EA has now made this easier by releasing versions optimized for today's systems, fulfilling a long-standing wish of the Sims community.

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

The Sims 4 is set to host the "Blast From The Past" event, reintroducing iconic items from earlier titles. Over four weeks, expect to see 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 classic 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 also enjoy a new velour tracksuit, receive daily gifts for 25 days, and explore a Social Town update featuring a museum dedicated to The Sims' history.

25 Hour Livestream For 25 Years

To launch 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 share a deep passion for the game. 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 catch the full recording on The Sims' official YouTube or Twitch channel.