The Sims franchise has been the games Gen Z and Millenials have grown up to. It has been a pop culture staple and has been a game that has introduced millions people such as women and the LGBTQ+ community to the gaming community who may not have joined the community otherwise if it weren’t for The Sims. In recent news, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund came to a $55 billion agreement to acquire Electronic Arts (the company that owns The Sims) through a group of investors that includes Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner.
Why are Sims 4 Players outraged?
Many players have expressed concern that The Sims 4 could lose its inclusivity following the Saudi Arabia investment. The game has long been praised as one of the most inclusive franchises, allowing players to create characters of all genders, represent different races, and play same-sex couples. Given that Saudi Arabia has strict laws surrounding same-sex marriage and women’s rights, players worry that these diverse aspects of the game could be removed or deprioritized as a result of the investment.
Many Sims players have felt that the game has been “selling out” for years now. This frustration comes from the constant bugs and glitches that remain unresolved, leaving players feeling like the company isn’t listening to their concerns. On top of that, The Sims 4 has released numerous expansion packs that many players view as cash grabs, with content they don’t feel is worth the price. As a result, this investment has only made players more upset, as they feel their money is going to waste when ongoing issues with the game continue to be ignored.
Given the game’s diverse nature, some players fear that The Sims 4 could eventually be abandoned altogether. Many have speculated that Saudi Arabia’s investment may be more focused on EA Sports titles rather than The Sims, especially as Saudi Arabia has recently increased its global focus on sports such as soccer. This has left some players worried that The Sims may no longer be a priority moving forward.
What Popular Sims Creators Have To Say
Kayla Sims, also known as lilsimsie, is one of the biggest Sims 4 creators and is widely loved for her build-focused content. Over the years, she has also worked directly with EA, creating digital houses that are featured in the game itself. Following the announcement of the Saudi Arabia investment, Kayla Sims announced via a YouTube community post that she would be leaving the EA Creator Network, stating, “I have made the decision to remove myself from the EA Creator Network. It is my hope that pressure from creators and the community might encourage EA’s leadership to reconsider the long-term impact of this sale and to preserve the values that have made The Sims so beloved.” This means that Kayla will no longer receive exclusive early access to game content or have a creator code associated with The Sims 4. Since posting this statement, Kayla has received overwhelming support from fans who share concerns that the investment represents a sellout and a departure from the franchise’s long-standing inclusive values. Other Sims creators, such as Plumbella , Steph0sims,and others have also announced that they are leaving the EA Creator Network.
As of January 2026, lilsimsie has shared that she will only create content around free Sims updates moving forward and will no longer cover future paid packs or expansions. She explained, “My hope is that it won’t sell very well, and the lack of sales will send a clear message to EA about how strongly the community feels about the sale of the company.”
From One Sims Player To Another
If you love The Sims like I do, then you know how influential the community around it has always been. I’ve been playing this game for years and watching creators long before I even started playing myself. If it weren’t for these creators and their videos, I don’t know if I ever would have fallen in love with the game the way I did. Their influence truly matters. That’s why seeing Sims creators step away from creator networks and speak honestly to EA feels validating as a player.
I love The Sims, and I’ve spent my own money on many of its content packs. I also have plenty of feedback and criticisms about the game, but at its core, I appreciate its inclusive culture and what it has meant to so many players. However, in all honesty, it feels like we are taking many steps backward. While the game is inclusive in some ways, there is still so much work to be done, especially when it comes to inclusivity for players with disabilities and much of the progress so far has only happened because creators and the community pushed for it.
It also feels like the franchise has taken a step back in quality overall. Earlier games like The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 offered deeper gameplay and more complete experiences, which makes the current state of The Sims 4 feel disappointing in comparison. Because of this, it’s honestly not surprising to some players that EA would move toward an investment like this, as the game has often felt like it prioritizes profit over passion. For longtime fans, this moment feels less like progress and more like confirmation of a long-standing fear that the franchise has been selling out.
Nevertheless, The Sims has always been more than just a game. It has been a space for creativity, community, and representation. The recent investment has left many players and creators feeling uncertain about the future of a franchise they deeply care about. While the game has made important progress toward inclusivity, the backlash highlights how much trust has been built through community feedback and how fragile that trust can be. Moving forward, players hope that EA listens to the voices that helped shape The Sims in the first place, rather than losing sight of what made the franchise so meaningful.