Inside the Sims rebellion

Players are trying to mount a protest against a Saudi-led deal to acquire the game’s parent company Electronic Arts.

- Martha Muir

A gaming YouTuber who goes by the name Not Malcolm is waging a crusade against The Sims, his favourite video game. “Stop promoting the damn game, bro,” he implored fans in a recent video. “Stop buying it. Put your money where your mouth is.”

When news broke at the end of September that Electronic Arts (EA), parent company of the game’s publisher, was being sold to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, fans were quick to complain. The backlash has inspired a wider debate about the business model of global gaming companies and their interactions with players.

The Sims is a “life simulation” game created by American designer Will Wright in 2000. There is no goal or way to win. Instead, players create virtual people, build homes and communities for them and then play as if in a digital dollhouse. To date, it has sold more than 200 million copies, making it one of the most popular titles in the world. Not Malcolm says that he has racked up more than 1,000 hours of play.