The development team behind The Sims 4 has reportedly sent a message to some creative players, with part of it aimed at reassuring them that the game will continue to offer a welcoming space amid publisher EA's privatization. Many fans of The Sims 4 have expressed concern over the recent $55 billion buyout of EA, but the creative team at Maxis states that its values will not be changing.
In late September, reports of a $50 billion deal to make EA go private surfaced, with the buyer being listed as a consortium group made up of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Financial, and Affinity Partners, the last of which was founded and is owned by Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. That selling price was later clarified to be $5 billion more than what was originally announced, and the announcement has sparked concern in many groups, including members of the United States Senate.
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Sims 4 Team Shows Commitment to Creators
The business move has generated a high amount of worry among fans of The Sims 4, with most of it focused on uncertainty over whether EA will continue to promote diversity in the community. The development team seems committed to continuing the game's inclusive nature, as an email reportedly sent to some of the community's creators states, in part, that Maxis' "mission, values, and commitment to players and fans around the world are not changing and The Sims will continue to be a space where you can express your authentic self." That email, which appears to have first been shared on Twitter by creator SweetAshGamer, has seen mixed responses, as some have taken solace in the words, while others see them as empty promises that the creative team cannot hope to keep if the publisher has other plans in mind.
There is still much speculation about what the buyout deal could mean for The Sims 4 and other EA-owned games and franchises. Some are concerned that politically conservative ownership could result in a deterioration of The Sims 4's diversity, including its inclusion of items and themes that support a spectrum of gender and sexual identities. Others fear the potential of layoffs at the development studio or the possibility that EA could sell off some IPs that do not align with the buyers' plans.
Whatever those plans may be, the developers are still only partway through a Sims 4 roadmap that was released in mid-September. The game's latest expansion, Adventure Awaits, was released on October 2, and upcoming highlights on that roadmap include some bug fixes and free item giveaways for November.
The Sims 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 26%
- Released
- September 2, 2014
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Source: Sims Community