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 classic titles. Dive into the details of the celebrations below.

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 in-game events and freebies. Players can look forward to a star-studded livestream showcasing the best of the Simmers community, as well as the exciting return 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 have 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 the 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

In a thrilling announcement, fans can now revisit the origins of the series. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, 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 individually.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Simmers, as the first two titles have been largely unavailable for nearly a decade. Even those who owned physical copies faced challenges running the games on modern computers without significant modifications. EA has now addressed this by releasing versions optimized for today's systems, a move eagerly awaited by fans.

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

The Sims 4 is hosting the "Blast From The Past" event, reintroducing iconic items from earlier games. Over four weeks, players will see the addition of nostalgic pieces such as neon inflatable chairs in bright neon green or popping pink, a three-layer cake, a light-up dance floor, and even wired phones.

Meanwhile, The Sims FreePlay's Birthday Update takes players back to the early 2000s with new Live Events like "The One with the Coffee Shop" and "Reality Island". Players can also enjoy a new velour tracksuit, daily gifts for 25 days, and a Social Town update featuring a museum that celebrates The Sims' history.

25 Hour Livestream For 25 Years

The anniversary celebrations kicked off with a 25-hour livestream on February 4th, featuring a lineup of celebrities, streamers, fan-favorite builders, and storytellers passionate about The Sims. 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 event, you can catch the full recording on The Sims' official YouTube or Twitch channels.