EA, the publisher of the The Sims franchise, has been acquired for 55 billion dollars by a Saudi sovereign wealth fund, in a country where LGBTQIA+ people are criminalized and severely repressed. This takeover raises numerous concerns about the future of the game, historically known for its inclusivity and as a refuge for queer players.
EA’s Acquisition by Saudi Arabia: What We Know
On September 29, EA was acquired for a total of 55 billion dollars by a Saudi sovereign wealth fund (PIF) and two investment companies. If the deal is confirmed by EA shareholders in 2026, Saudi Arabia will hold 93.4% of EA.
Does this spell the end of LGBTQIA+-friendly content in the game? While The Sims has always been a refuge for queer people with a strong community, what future for players and content creators? A look back at the game’s progress on inclusivity and its future outlook.
The Sims, a Historically LGBTQIA+-Friendly and Inclusive Franchise
The Sims have always kept pace with societal changes, becoming a true pioneer of inclusivity. While the first same-sex marriage (invalid) was celebrated in France in 2004, The Sims 2 made it accessible to all.
In 1999, during the presentation of the first title at E3, the demo shows an involuntary lesbian kiss. When The Sims 1 was released in 2000, the game was a pioneer in representing homosexual relationships and it was one of the few games where characters could be bisexual.
In 2004, The Sims 2 released and made marriages between two characters of the same gender possible.
In 2023, a free update in The Sims 4 (released in 2014) added mastectomy scars, binders, and tape to represent transgender people. Then in 2024: a new update to The Sims 4 offers Pride-themed decorations and clothing, as well as the various LGBTQIA+ flags to hang on walls. A few months later, polyamorous relationships were included in the game.
From the fans’ side, reactions show their dismay at an uncertain future for their favorite game, which is often a refuge and a space of freedom since childhood:
“It makes my stomach churn just thinking that my money could enable those scum to mistreat minorities …”
“I haven’t given a cent to The Sims or EA in over a year, and this news isn’t going to make me change my mind …”
“As a trans person, it’s very hard to see my favorite game, which to me is a symbol of inclusivity, being bought by those people …”
“The Sims 4 already feels of noticeably lower quality than before. Nothing has been going well for a while. Count me out, regardless of what they do.”
For players, several trajectories are emerging in the coming months. Many of them plan to keep playing while stopping buying DLC; these microtransactions, dozens of them, are a real cash cow for EA and allow maximizing profits on The Sims 4, which became free-to-play in October 2022.
Other The Sims fans plan to replay older The Sims games, which are not at risk of being modified.
Finally, hype is rising around Paralives, an indie game that mirrors a similar gameplay to The Sims, with early access slated for May 25, 2026.
