If you are a fan of The Sims, the iconic simulation game franchise that began in 2000 as a spinoff of SimCity, you might have seen some eyebrow-raising news over the past few weeks — from company statements to creators leaving the community. If you’re confused, we’re here to break it all down for you.
A number of Sims creators have announced they are stepping away from the game, and it all has to do with video game company Electronic Arts (EA) announcing its planned $55 billion acquisition by a group of investors, which includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. EA is the owner of many beloved gaming franchises, like Battlefield, EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), and The Sims. Here’s what all that means.
What is EA's deal?
On September 29, 2025, EA announced it would go private — which means it won’t be available for public trading on the stock market — in a $55 billion leveraged buyout (LBO), with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and two private equity firms, Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake, owning 100% of the company. (PIF already owns 9.9% of EA.) According to the AP, this is the largest-ever private equity LBO.
The deal still needs approval from regulators and stockholders but EA said the transaction “is expected to close in Q1 FY27,” after which “EA’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public market.”
What does EA's deal mean for the Sims community?
The PIF is chaired by Mohammed bin Salman (often called MBS), Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, and Saudi Arabia has been accused of committing human rights abuses and engaging in sportswashing, which is when sports are used “to redirect public attention away from unethical conduct,” according to the Australian Human Rights Institute. Affinity Partners founder Jared Kushner, of course, is married to Ivanka Trump and has served as an adviser for President Donald Trump. Following the announcement of the deal, many people have come out in opposition of EA’s planned acquisition, including notable The Sims creators Plumbella (Jesse McNamara), James Turner, lilsimsie (Kayla Sims), and more.
Multiple notable streamers in the EA Creator Network — which provides exclusive access and other networking perks to Sims-related content creators — have announced they will be leaving the network, with some adding that they will stop producing Sims-related content on their channels.
On October 23, 2025, Turner took to his YouTube account to write: “With the news of the buyout and understanding who will be owning EA in the future, I plan on shifting our focus to including more variety. In addition to that I have decided to leave the EA Creator Network and have asked to remove my creator code.”
On October 23, 2025, lilsimsie announced a similar stance in a post on her own YouTube account. “As I’m sure many of you have seen, it was recently announced that EA is going to be sold to private investors for $55 billion. This news has devastated me. The values represented by the people acquiring EA are fundamentally at odds with what I stand for and support,” she wrote.
“I’ve been losing sleep over it for weeks, and I’ve been deeply struggling with what to do moving forward. I have so much love for The Sims. This game has completely shaped my entire life, and I care so deeply about The Sims and the community. I have made the decision to remove myself from the EA Creator Network,” she continued. “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. This means that I will no longer receive early access to Sims packs, and I will not have a creator code.”
CarynandConnieGaming also posted a note, saying: “We wanted to make sure y’all know that we have left the EA Creator Network as this buyout and future ownership does not align with our beliefs or values. We know we’ve already said this, but just wanna put it here too that we have not purchased any Sims packs since the buyout was announced, nor have we made a video with them. It is our biggest hope that EA reevaluates this decision, and the impact it has on people, as well as the community that has supported The Sims for so long. This is a personal decision from us, we do not judge other creators on their decisions as it is all around so hard to navigate this horrible situation.”
Plumbella shared a post about the EA deal as well, saying, “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.”
Has The Sims team said anything about the reactions?
Seemingly in light of the many creators announcing their opposition to the EA deal, The Sims issued an official statement on its social media channels on October 24.
“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,” the statement reads. “Our mission, values, and commitment remain the same. The Sims will always be a space where you can express your authentic self.”
You can read the full statement below. Teen Vogue has reached out to EA for additional comment.
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