Electronic Arts has been on a rollercoaster ride recently, experiencing both notable successes and challenging setbacks. While titles like Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA FC have seen struggles, and recent Sims 4 packs garnered lukewarm reception, the company also celebrated critical and commercial triumphs with Battlefield 6 and Split Fiction. However, the more recent news of EA’s acquisition, involving significant new stakeholders including the Saudi Arabian investment fund PIF and Affinity Partners (owned by Jared Kushner), has plunged the company into fresh controversy, intensified by a new partnership with Stability AI.
This acquisition has ignited significant concern over the future of diversity in EA’s game offerings, especially considering Saudi Arabia’s laws criminalizing same-sex relationships. These concerns are particularly strong within The Sims 4 community, a game celebrated for its emphasis on players being able to “express their authentic self.”
As a direct consequence, several prominent Sims content creators have announced their withdrawal from the EA Creator Network. They are actively encouraging their audiences to cease using their unique creator codes, pointing to the EA sale as the principal reason for their stance. Notable figures, including Kayla ‘LilSimsie’ Sims (with 2.19 million subscribers) and James Turner (1.58 million), have publicly disassociated themselves from the program. LilSimsie specifically described the buyout as “a nightmare for our community.”
EA responded to the growing dissent with a statement on Friday, October 24, thanking players for their loyalty and asserting that it “deeply respects that everyone experiences The Sims in their own way and will make choices that are right for them.” Despite this, more creators have continued to leave the network. Sasha ‘Vixella’ Staggs (1.7 million subscribers) articulated her decision, stating she “just can’t see [her]self associating with the Creator Network seeing the direction that EA is taking at this current time.”
While many of these content creators may still produce Sims-related content, their withdrawal from the Creator Network means they will no longer benefit from free or early access to new game packs.
We have reached out to Electronic Arts for an official statement and will provide updates to this article as new information becomes available.
EA’s transition to a private company in September, a monumental deal valued at $55 billion, marks one of the most significant buyouts in the history of the gaming industry. This privatization has drawn particular scrutiny due to reports from organizations like Amnesty International, which last year highlighted Saudi Arabia’s concerning human rights record, citing issues such as women’s rights, unfair judicial processes, and restrictions on freedom of expression.