The Sims franchise is marking its 25th anniversary with a flurry of exciting in-game events, a 25-hour livestream, and the much-anticipated return of two beloved titles. Dive in to discover all the festivities planned for this milestone celebration.

Happy 25th Birthday to The Sims!

Events and Freebies Galore

The Sims is pulling out all the stops for its 25th anniversary, offering players an array of in-game freebies, a star-studded livestream showcasing the best of the Sims community, and the exciting re-release of The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 on PC.

"Our incredible players have shown us that no one does life like The Sims, and we wanted to celebrate this journey we have been on together," said Kevin Gibson, The Sims Production Director, in an interview with Xbox Wire. "25 years ago, a game with a groundbreaking idea made a big splash at E3, and look where we are today! We’ve been part of multiple generations and touched millions of lives." He emphasized that the support from players over the past two decades since its reveal in 1999 has been instrumental in reaching this milestone.

"All of the Simmers from all the years and all the different ways to play The Sims are part of this 25-year journey, and this is our way of saying thank you."

The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 Are Back

Kicking off the celebrations, fans can now relive the nostalgia with the return of the original The Sims and The Sims 2, complete with all their respective DLCs. These classics are now available for purchase on Steam or the EA store, either as a Birthday Bundle or individually.

This re-release is a fantastic opportunity for Simmers, as the first two titles have been largely unavailable for nearly a decade. Even owners of the physical disc versions faced challenges running the games on modern computers without significant modifications. EA has addressed these issues by releasing updated versions compatible with today's systems, fulfilling a long-held wish among the Sims community.

In-Game Events for The Sims 4 and The Sims FreePlay

The Sims 4 is set to host the "Blast From The Past" event, introducing iconic items from earlier titles such as neon inflatable chairs in vibrant neon green or popping pink, a three-layer cake, a light-up dance floor, and even wired phones. These items will be rolled out over four weeks, adding a nostalgic touch to your gameplay.

Meanwhile, The Sims FreePlay's Birthday Update will transport players back to the early 2000s with new Live Events like "The One with the Coffee Shop" and "Reality Island", along with a new velour tracksuit. Players can enjoy daily gifts for 25 days and explore a new Social Town update featuring a museum that showcases the history of The Sims.

25-Hour Livestream for 25 Years

To launch the anniversary celebrations, The Sims hosted a 25-hour livestream on February 4th, featuring a lineup of celebrities, streamers, fan-favorite builders, and storytellers united by their passion for The Sims. Guests included Doja Cat, rapper Latto, drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya, YouTubers Dan & Phil, Plumbella, TikTokers Angelo & Lexy, virtual streamer Ironmouse, and many others.

If you missed the live event, you can catch the full recording on the official The Sims YouTube and Twitch channels.