Twenty-five years after their debut, The Sims 1 and 2 are getting a second lease of life… but only for PC players. Without an official announcement from EA or Xbox, the first two cult opuses of the franchise are now included in the Game Pass subscription. A surprise arrival that revives nostalgia, while setting some limits.
Available now for Game Pass PC and Ultimate subscribers, The Sims 1 and 2, along with all their extensionsare making their comeback. No remaster, no console version, just the original games, accessible for free on modern download platforms, provided you have a sufficiently powerful PC. The first two Sims games and all their content are coming to Game Pass as a surprise. But only PC players can enjoy it. Here’s why.
An unexpected return without fanfare
No conference, no official announcement on the networks: it is with complete discretion that EA has decided to make The Sims and The Sims 2 available on Game Pass. The information quickly circulated on specialized forums and social networks, confirmed by subscribers who noted their presence in the PC catalog.
This availability coincides with the 25th anniversary of the license, celebrated last year with a first digital reissue on Steam and the Epic Games Store. Today, it is the turn of Game Pass subscribers to benefit from this Legacy Collection, at no additional cost.
A generous offer… but only on PC
While the arrival of these iconic games is pleasing, it completely excludes console players. The Sims 1 and 2 are not available only via Game Pass PCwhatever the formula chosen (Ultimate or not). A predictable disappointment, since the console versions of the time were very different from their PC counterparts, more rich and modular.
The games offered on Game Pass are the original full versions, not remastered, and therefore reserved for a Windows environment. It should also be kept in mind that despite their age, these titles may require technical adjustments on modern machines.
A strategic choice for EA, far from a simple gift
Rather than creating expensive remasters, EA opted to raw re-release the original files. An inexpensive, but extremely effective method: the Legacy Collection, which includes all the DLC, has already attracted thousands of nostalgic fans via download platforms. Its availability on Game Pass extends this success, without major investment.
This choice raises another question: why not highlight The Sims 4, free for 3 years? Or even its announced successor, known by the code name “Project Rene”? Since its announcement, the latter has been absent from subscribers. Perhaps this return to his origins discreetly prepares his arrival…
How to access it and what do you need to benefit from it?
Interested players must have an active Game Pass PC or Ultimate subscription, and install the Xbox app on their computer. Once connected, they will find The Sims and The Sims 2 in the catalog, with the possibility of downloading the numerous packs included.
Be careful, however: as these games are very old, their compatibility with certain modern components may pose a problem. A configuration check is therefore recommended before getting started. No withdrawal deadline has been announced, but like any Game Pass offer, their presence is not guaranteed in the long term.