Confirmed: EA is bringing back The Sims and The Sims 2, along with a host of their expansion packs, just in time to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary.
The Sims Legacy Collection is set to package the original Sims game with an array of expansions, including Livin’ Large, House Party, Hot Date, Vacation, Unleashed, Superstar, and Makin’ Magic. They’ve even thrown in The Sims 4’s Throwback Fit Kit for good measure, for those who might fancy a bit of nostalgia.
On the other hand, The Sims 2: Legacy Collection promises to deliver the core Sims 2 experience, bundled with University, Nightlife, Open for Business, Pets, Bon Voyage, Seasons, FreeTime, Apartment Life, and many more. Plus, there’s a nod to the present with The Sims 4: Grunge Revival added in.
For those loyal IKEA Home Stuff fans, there’s a slight disappointment: that particular pack didn’t make it into The Sims 2 bundle. Both collections, however, are available together as part of The Sims: 25th Birthday Bundle.
The Sims made its first splash in 2000, while its sequel, The Sims 2, arrived in 2004. While it’s the first time the original game is getting a reissue, The Sims 2 had its expansion packs previously bundled in The Ultimate Collection, which was accessible through Origin between 2014 and 2018. I fondly remember once snagging it for free, as long as you could prove ownership of the original discs—a situation that had me splitting a call between an EA rep and my mom back home in my room.
Owning early Sims versions nowadays is one thing, but running them on modern systems is another. It’s been a challenge, to say the least. With any luck, these rereleases will glide effortlessly on Windows 10 and 11, steering clear of any pesky black boxes and dreaded pink soup graphic glitches.
