Several of The Sims 4‘s biggest content creators like Plumbella, James Turner, and lilsimsie have resigned from EA’s Creator Network following news that the company has been acquired in a Saudi-backed deal reportedly worth around $55bn.
Kayla “lilsimsie” Sims announced she is cutting ties with the official program. She’s one of the franchise’s most influential voices with millions of followers across YouTube and Twitch. Other top Sims creators have also stepped down, though not all names have been publicly confirmed yet.
The Creator Network is EA’s official partnership program that gives select content creators early access to unreleased games and DLC. Members receive press materials, attend exclusive events, and work directly with developers on promotional campaigns. For The Sims 4 specifically, this means getting expansion packs and game packs weeks before public release.
By leaving, these creators are giving up that privileged access. No more early builds. No more embargo briefings. No more official collaboration with Maxis on upcoming content.
Lilsimsie addressed the situation directly. “This situation is a nightmare for our community,” she said. “Nobody supports this sale, and it is putting creators in a very difficult position. They have built their entire career and livelihood over a game that they have no control over.”
The resignations are explicitly tied to ethical concerns about EA’s new ownership structure. Creators are facing a choice between maintaining their official relationships with EA or taking a stand against the acquisition.
The Sims 4 has always been heavily dependent on its creator community. The game went free-to-play in 2022, with revenue now driven entirely by paid expansions and smaller DLC packs. YouTube and Twitch creators play a massive role in marketing these releases. Their day-one coverage, build showcases, and pack reviews can significantly shape public perception and sales.
Losing prominent creators from the official pipeline could affect how new Sims content performs. Fans who rely on lilsimsie and others for early looks and detailed breakdowns may see delayed coverage or none at all from their favorite creators.
The Sims franchise has historically emphasized inclusivity, adding features like same-sex relationships at launch in 2014, expanded gender customization in 2016, and custom pronouns in 2022. That progressive identity makes the ownership change particularly complicated for a community built around creative expression.
EA’s Creator Network was previously called the Game Changers program. It operates across multiple EA titles, though The Sims maintains one of the most active and engaged creator ecosystems of any EA franchise.
What happens now
The practical impact is straightforward. Expect less early access content from major Sims creators. Day-one previews will be fewer. Official promotional cycles will have less participation from the community figures who typically drive them.
EA and Maxis have not publicly commented on the departures or whether Creator Network operations will change under new ownership. The company is continuing active development on The Sims 4 while also working on the next-generation project codenamed “Project Rene.”
Whether more creators follow suit remains to be seen. Some smaller creators who built their entire careers around Sims content face an even harder choice between access and ethics.
