The life simulation game, “The Sims,” celebrated its 25th anniversary on Feb. 4. Developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts (EA), “The Sims” revolutionized the gaming industry by offering an open-ended simulation experience. Described as a “virtual dollhouse” by its creator, Will Wright, the game allows players to create and control virtual people known as Sims, build and furnish their homes, and navigate various in-game scenarios. As a “sandbox game,” meaning it lacks a fixed goal, “The Sims” encourages creativity and experimentation. Other notable games that fall into this category include “Minecraft,” “Grand Theft Auto V,” and “Roblox.”

Upon its release in 2000, “The Sims” quickly became a commercial success. Within two years, it had sold 6.3 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises in history. The game series has since expanded to three main sequels — “The Sims 2,” “The Sims 3,” and “The Sims 4”—along with five spin-offs, three of which are now defunct.

To commemorate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, EA re-released “The Sims” and “The Sims 2.” Previously considered abandonware, both games were able to be downloaded for free, though many players encountered difficulties running and installing them. EA later officially re-released the games for purchase: “The Sims” now retails for $19.99 and includes seven packs and one kit, while “The Sims 2” now retails for $29.99 and features 17 packs and one kit. A “Birthday Bundle” containing both games is available for $39.99.

Despite the excitement and nostalgia surrounding the re-release, some fans voiced concerns over a lack of diversity in the earlier Sims games. For example, in “Create a Sim” (CAS) mode in “The Sims,” players are limited to just three skin tones. This issue remains in the re-released versions, drawing criticism from players who have long called for more inclusive representation.

For its latest “The Sims 4,” EA released a free update that introduced 70 new items across CAS, Build, and Buy modes, aiming to enhance player customization options.

On Feb. 6, EA announced a new “Sims 4” expansion pack titled “Businesses and Hobbies,” sparking initial excitement among fans. Hobbies have been a long-requested feature, and many players hoped the pack would introduce new activities and interaction to gameplay. However, the pack’s reveal trailer left many in the community disappointed. While the title suggests a focus on both businesses and hobbies, the pack primarily revolves around running small businesses, including the option to operate them from home. The concept closely resembles “Get to Work,” the first expansion pack for “the Sims 4,” released in 2015, which introduced retail lots and active careers.

Many players criticized “Businesses and Hobbies” for lacking substantial hobby-related content, such as new musical instruments and the ability to form bands. Additionally, players felt that the pack did not offer enough new features to justify its $40 price tag, particularly given its reliance on other packs to provide a complete experience. EA’s marketing of the pack emphasized cross-pack compatibility, but fans pointed out that expansion packs start at $19.99 when on sale, making a richer gameplay experience costly.

The criticism of “Business and Hobbies” is just the latest controversy EA has faced with “The Sims 4.” In recent years, the company has ramped up its promotion of downloadable content (DLC), adding an in-game shopping cart icon to encourage purchases. Between expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs, and kits, “The Sims 4” currently offers 91 DLCs. As of August 2024, the total cost of owning all of “The Sims 4” content amounts to $1,235, according to Screen Rant. This price does include the base game, which originally cost $60 before becoming free in October 2022.

Another controversy that frustrated the Sims community was the release of the “My Wedding Stories” game pack in February 2022. The pack, which was designed to exchange weddings and relationship interactions launched in an unplayable state. Players reported a slew of bugs including Sims failing to follow wedding event prompts, guests not sitting down during ceremonies, and interactions breaking mid-event. The poor functionality rendered the pack nearly useless, leading to widespread backlash. EA eventually released patches to address some of the issues, but the pack’s release further fueled ongoing complaints about the company’s handling of “The Sims 4” DLCs and lack of quality assurance while still charging players full price.

EA’s business practices have faced scrutiny beyond “The Sims” franchise. The company has been criticized for aggressive monetization strategies in other games, including “FIFA” and “Star Wars Battlefront II.” The latter faced significant backlash for its use of loot boxes, leading to accusations of pay-to-win mechanics and prompting an investigation into predatory microtransactions. In response to public outcry, EA was forced to temporarily remove the loot box system from “Battlefront II.” Similar concerns have been raised about the handling of “Battlefield” and “Madden NFL” franchises, with long-time players expressing frustration over annual releases that include minimal improvements while charging full price. Additionally, EA has been accused of pushing unfinished or bug-ridden games to meet financial deadlines across other franchises, damaging its reputation.

For many Sims players, the reliance on mods and custom content (CC) has become essential to making “The Sims 4” feel complete. Mods, created by independent developers, introduce new gameplay features while CC adds custom hairstyles, clothing, furniture, and other design elements. Many players argue that the game feels incomplete or rushed without these additions, further fueling criticism of EA’s approach to content distribution. The modding community has fixed bugs and enhanced features EA has neglected, while CC creators have addressed the lack of diversity in the game by creating their own designs. This dedication has made modders and CC creators an integral part of the Sims community, providing players with fresh content, better customization options, and improved gameplay experience that EA has failed to deliver.

Despite these controversies, “The Sims” remains an iconic franchise with a dedicated player base. With the next iteration of “The Sims” in development, many fans are hopeful that EA will address long-standing concerns and deliver a more inclusive and engaging experience in the future.