The Sims Team and EA have released a statement on My Wedding Stories, stating the expansion won’t censor gay marriage and so won’t release in Russia.
The next Sims 4 expansion, My Wedding Stories, won’t be sold in Russia as EA and The Sims Team has announced it won’t censor gay marriage within the Game Pack. Sims My Wedding Stories was revealed earlier this month with a story trailer focusing on Sims Dominique and Camille, who break up a wedding to be together.
Fans of The Sims have been patiently waiting for news of a new expansion that isn’t a Kit. Kits have been releasing frequently much to the chagrin of those hoping for new gameplay additions, with Kits almost entirely focusing on new clothing pieces rather than story or play content. A wedding-focused expansion has been high on fans’ wishlists for some time now, and the official reveal of The Sims 4 My Wedding Stories was met with praise from players. The upcoming release is a Sims Game Pack expansion, making it larger than Kits and Stuff Packs, but smaller than a full Expansion Pack.
In a new letter from The Sims Team shared on the EA website and by The Sims on Twitter, the developer has confirmed that My Wedding Stories will not be available in Russia, as it doesn’t want to censor gay marriage. The team explains how Dom and Cam’s love story is an integral part of My Wedding Stories, and an integral part of the game’s vision to celebrate “the joy of finding love, celebrating that love and telling stories that have meaning on a personal level.” The developer writes that this is not something they wanted to remove or change to comply with federal laws in Russia, stating:
“We are steadfast in upholding that commitment by shining a light on and celebrating stories like Dom and Cam’s, so we have made the decision to forgo the release of “My Wedding Stories” where our storytelling would be subject to changes because of federal laws. Regrettably, this means that members of The Sims community in Russia will not be able to purchase this game pack.”
The decision further demonstrates The Sims commitment to inclusivity and representation in-game. As a life simulation game, The Sims 4 gives users control over their characters and their stories, and while Sims have been able to WooHoo, date and marry people of the same gender across the series, updates to Sims 4 have helped to offer an even more realistic experience for players. Past updates have not only improved the range of skin tones in the game, but have also introduced flexible options when it comes to using the bathroom and pregnancy, and the game recently committed to offering gender-neutral pronouns.
While Sims players in Russia may be disappointed in EA and The Sims Team’s decision to not release My Wedding Stories, the statement has been widely praised across social media. While the whole world won’t get to play it, the news shows the game and its developers have no interest in censoring its world and stories. Sims 4 My Wedding Stories will release on February 17, and is set to give users total control over designing their dream wedding – regardless of who may be standing at the altar.
Source: EA, The Sims/Twitter
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