The Sims Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

The Sims franchise is marking its 25th anniversary with a series of exciting in-game events, a 25-hour livestream, and the much-anticipated return of two beloved titles. Dive into the details of these celebratory festivities below.

Happy 25th Birthday To The Sims!

Events And Freebies Galore

The Sims is pulling out all the stops for its 25th anniversary, offering players a plethora of events and goodies. Expect in-game freebies, a star-studded livestream showcasing the best of Simmers (Sims players), and the grand 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 all the players over the 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

Highlighting the celebrations, players can now revisit the origins of the series. In honor of its 25th anniversary, the original The Sims and The Sims 2, including all their respective DLCs, are now available for purchase on Steam or the EA store. You can buy them either as a Birthday Bundle or separately.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Simmers as these first two titles were not easily purchasable for nearly a decade. Even owners of physical disc versions faced challenges running the games on modern computers without significant modifications. EA has now addressed this issue 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 set to feature the "Blast From The Past" event, bringing back iconic clothing, furniture, and decor from earlier titles. Over four weeks, new items will be introduced, including neon inflatable chairs in vibrant 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 will transport players back to the series' early 2000s roots with new Live Events like "The One with the Coffee Shop" and "Reality Island". Players can enjoy a new velour tracksuit, daily gifts for 25 days, and a Social Town update featuring a museum that reflects on The Sims' history.

25 Hour Livestream For 25 Years

To launch the anniversary celebrations, 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 passion for The Sims. Guests included Doja Cat, rapper Latto, drag queen duo Trixie Mattel and Katya, YouTubers Dan & Phil, Plumbella, TikTokers Angelo & Lexy, and virtual streamer Ironmouse, among others.

Simmers who missed the live event can catch the full recording on the official The Sims YouTube channel or Twitch channel.