As The Sims franchise until 2026, developer Maxis has confirmed that its core values remain “unchanged”. The move is intended to ease fan concerns about Electronic Arts' upcoming buyout and its potential impact on The Sims 4 and the overall future of the franchise.
In late September 2025, EA announced a preliminary agreement to be acquired at a value of $55 billion and consequently go private. The deal was made with a consortium led by private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, as well as Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The enormity of the proposed acquisition and PIF's involvement in it has fueled a broad public debate about the content direction EA might take under Saudi ownership.
“There's a lot of misinformation going around” EA responds to rumors about the future of Sims 4 development
The future of The Sims 4 and the wider Sims franchise is a little unclear right now, but thanks to a recent leak, more official news is on the way.
The Sims developer says its creative principles won't change under EA's new owner
In a New Year's update, Maxis said its “values are unchanged” following the latest acquisition news. “From day one, our values have been the foundation behind every choice we've made,” a company representative wrote, noting that this creative philosophy will continue after the controversial deal. Expanding on this message, the developer outlined five core creative principles that guide its design philosophy: creativity, play, choice, inclusion and community.
5 listed values for The Sims Team
- Creativity: The Sims is a canvas for imagination.
- Play: The Sims thrive on play.
- Choice: The Sims is defined by decisions.
- Inclusivity: The Sims is for everyone.
- Community: The Sims is a community driven game.
The emphasis on inclusivity is particularly notable in the context of the EA purchase, as some Sims 4 fans have previously expressed concern that the franchise's longstanding support for LGBTQ representation could conflict with the values of its potential new ownership. Critics point specifically to Saudi Arabia's human rights record, which includes the criminalization of same-sex relationships and broader restrictions on LGBTQ rights and freedom of expression, raising ethical concerns for gamers who don't want their spending on EA titles to benefit the Saudi state.
While similar concerns have been raised by other EA gaming communities, they are particularly pronounced within Sims fandom, given the franchise's longstanding reputation as one of mainstream gaming's most progressive when it comes to identity representation and player expression. In the weeks following the September 2025 buyout announcement, several were prominent Sims content creators publicly quit the series' official creator program — which provides early access to content and commissions on affiliate sales, among other benefits — framing their departure as a protest against EA's would-be owner's human rights.
When will the EA Buyout be completed?
EA shareholders have approved the $55 billion purchase in a vote by the end of December 2025. The deal is still subject to regulatory sign-offs, including a national security clearance. Assuming no complications occur, the leveraged buyout is expected to close in the first quarter of EA's fiscal year 2027, corresponding to the period April-June 2026.
Sims' future beyond the coming months
As part of the same New Year update, Maxis has shared some new information about what's next for its long-running series. Among other things, the company confirmed Project Renes status as a “mobile-first” game and teased new Sims experiences. It also confirmed its commitment to creating single-player titles, saying that Sims franchise will continue to be rooted in deep, system-driven gameplay, player agency and storytelling, with ongoing content updates planned for The Sims 4 and more than half of its global development team focused on that game, as well as the “next evolution.”
From day one, our values have been the foundation behind every choice we've made.
While some fans have interpreted the “next evolution” comment as a potential clue to the fifth main entry, the theory seems shaky at best. Just over a year earlier, EA VP Kate Gorman said fans shouldn't hold their breath The Sims 5and notes that the company instead focuses on continuing to develop The Sims 4. Speaking to Variety, the executive specifically described the approach as a “new era” — language not far removed from Maxi's “next evolution” phrases. Overall, the comments suggest so The Sims 5 may still not be part of EA's plans in the near term.
- Released
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September 2, 2014
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Crude humor, sexual themes, violence
- Publisher
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Electronic Arts
