Fans of the Sims franchise have been expressing their fears and dismay online over news that its developer EA has been bought out by a consortium including a Saudi Arabian investment fund
The Sim’s developer EA is being bought out by a consortium that includes Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and the Saudi Arabia’s Investment Fund (PIF). Now, Sims fans are troubled over the potential threat to the game’s LGBTQ+ features – with some social media users even deleting the game from their computers and hosting burials for the franchise.
But why has the buyout created such a storm? For the uninitiated, The Sims is a life-design franchise that has been running since the year 2000, with its latest instalment reaching over 85 million players worldwide. It allows users to create their own virtual characters, design and inhabit play-pretend houses and even form relationships with other Sims (from marriage to the ‘woohoo’).
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However, significantly for the LGBTQ+ community, the game has become a pioneer for diversity and sexual expression in gaming. Various features and extensions allow players to customise their Sim’s gender, sexuality and engage in polyamorous relationships. It’s been described as a “safe haven” for the queer community, while others online have claimed it helped normalise gay relationships for them.
This means fans were left somewhat perplexed when EA Games confirmed on September 29 that it had been bought for £41 billion by an investor consortium including – among others – the Public Investment Fund (PIF), headed by Saudi Arabian ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Affinity Partners, a Miami-based investment firm owned by Jared Kushner.
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Given that both the Trump administration and the Saudi Arabian government have demonstrated regressive attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights, it has created a sense of unease among fans over whether they will continue to enjoy the same level of expression in-game.
Homosexuality is currently illegal in Saudi Arabia, with those found to have engaged in same-sex acts potentially facing the death penalty. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ topics are censored and being trans is also criminalised.
The reaction to the news has been extreme online, with TikToks of fans expressing their dismay over the deal racking up millions of views. “It’s probably going to be turned into some trad housewife simulator,” one TikTok user @juniperdivine wrote. “Is this the end of LGBTQ relationships in sims?” another asked.
Others have been mourning the possible end to their characters’ same-sex relationships, while one user even took their frustration as far as hosting a burial for a printed-out image of The Sims 4.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson made a statement. He wrote: “We are entering a new era of opportunity. This is one of the largest and most significant investments ever made in the entertainment industry. Our new partners bring deep experience across sports, gaming, and entertainment. They are committed with conviction to EA – they believe in our people, our leadership, and the long-term vision we are now building together.
“Our mission at EA to — Inspire The World To Play — continues to guide everything we do. Our values and our commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged. With continued rigor and operational excellence, we can amplify the creativity of our teams, accelerate innovation, and pursue transformative opportunities that position EA to lead the future of entertainment. Together, we’ll create experiences that are bold, expressive, and deeply connected to inspire generations of players around the world.
“I am excited to continue as CEO, working alongside our leadership team to advance our strategy. United by our vision, we will deliver experiences that transcend platforms and empower players everywhere to create worlds, characters, and stories that are bold, interactive, and deeply connected.
The Mirror has reached out to Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, the Saudi Arabia’s Investment Fund and EA for comment.
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