Content creators specializing in The Sims 4 content are leaving EA’s Creator Network in protest after EA confirmed it is to be acquired by an investor group composed of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.
The transaction — announced at the end of last month and valued at approximately $55 billion — is the largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment in history.
Being part of a community that has always strived to be welcoming and inclusive, some The Sims creators now fear the documented conservative values of EA’s buyers — which include Donald Trump’s son-in-law and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud — will impact the game’s development, with insisting “the values represented by the people acquiring EA are fundamentally at odds” with that of The Sims’ community.
Streamer Kayla “LilSimsie” Sims, who has over 2 million subscribers and has worked with EA in the past to develop DLC, said news of the sale “devastated” her, and that “the situation is a nightmare for our community.”
“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,” she wrote in a heartfelt message on YouTube (thanks, Polygon).
“This means that I will no longer receive early access to Sims packs, and I will not have a creator code. Under this new ownership, I feel I cannot maintain a direct association to the company. I also truly believe that they benefit more from my early access content than I do, and I think that stepping away is the strongest action I can take against the sale.”
She continued: “This situation is a nightmare for our community. Nobody supports this sale, and it is putting creators in a very difficult position. They have built their entire career and livelihood over a game that they have no control over. I ask that you please not harass other Sims creators over their decisions regarding the game and the creator network. I am very fortunate to be in a position where I can make a choice like this, but not everyone has that ability. I don’t truly don’t believe there is a ‘right’ answer here, and everyone is still trying to figure out their next steps.”
Sims closed on writing: “I’m really, really distraught over this sale, and I know that many of you are as well. It’s scary, and it’s breaking my heart. I really appreciate your support as I try to navigate this.”
Jesse “Plumbella” McNamara, DevonBumpkin, Vixella, and James Turner have all similarly quit EA’s Creator Network.
“Due to the recent sale, I have asked to leave the EA Creator Network, and I will not buy or make content around any future release,” McNamara wrote.
“I think taking this stand is the right choice for me personally, but I’m not going to judge anybody on their decision. I’m in a privileged position to be able to say I’m leaving so easily. I hope that the sale falls through, and if it doesn’t, I hope that those that stay put pressure on EA to maintain the level of inclusiveness that The Sims has always been about.”
EA has issued a statement on the matter via the official The Sims social media accounts. In it, the company insisted “we deeply respect that everyone experiences The Sims in their own way and will make choices that are right for them. However you choose to play, create, or share, we’re grateful to be part of your journey. Our mission, values, and commitment remain the same. The Sims will always be a space where you can express your authentic self.”
In 2022, PIF also became one of the largest Nintendo shareholders with 5.01% ownership. Pokémon Go developer Niantic also announced that it had sold its library of games to mobile games maker Scopely, which is controlled by Savvy Games Group and PIF, earlier this year.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
