Overview
- Kayla “lilsimsie” Sims, Jesse “Plumbella” McNamara, and James Turner announced Oct. 23–24 that they have left the EA Creator Network, with lilsimsie calling the decision agonizing but necessary.
- Departing creators said the prospective ownership conflicts with their values, pointing to Saudi Arabia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws and human-rights record as key reasons for stepping away.
- Leaving the EA Creator Network means forfeiting commission earnings, early access to releases, and paid collaboration opportunities; Turner also asked to remove his creator code.
- EA CEO Andrew Wilson and The Sims team told players their mission and commitment to inclusivity are unchanged, stating The Sims will remain a space for authentic self-expression.
- EA has agreed to a roughly $55 billion sale to investors including Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, with closing targeted for the first half of 2027, while other creators say they are still deciding how to respond.