Sims No Longer Allowed To Woohoo Before Marriage After Saudis Acquire Electronic Arts

EFFIE BATEMAN | Lifestyle | Contact

In some truly shocking news for the gaming community, Electronic Arts is set to end its decades long run as a publicly traded company, following news that the publisher has been acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners –  the latter led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The deal, valued at an unprecedented $55 billion, will see EA transition to private ownership for the first time in thirty six years.

Known primarily for its lucrative sports titles such as EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), the publisher’s sale adds to Saudi Arabia’s growing portfolio in global sports and entertainment, in a move critics say is aimed at deflecting attention from the kingdom’s ongoing human rights abuses.

Unfortunately, for fans of the Sims, this acquisition will also include the beloved simulation game, which was acquired by Electronic Arts in 1997.

BioWare followers are equally concerned, given the studio’s reputation for inclusive storytelling in series like Dragon Age and Mass Effect.

Those fears may not be unfounded, as early reports suggest The Sims will no longer allow woohoo before marriage once the takeover is finalised, and that male and female sims will be required to sleep in separate rooms.

The game will also feature hundreds of micro transactions, including options to instantly max out skill levels by paying a hefty sum.

More to come.