Electronic Arts Confirms Server Shutdown: The Sims Mobile to Become Unplayable in January 2026

In a significant news development impacting the mobile gaming sector and the massive fanbase of the life simulation genre, Electronic Arts (EA) has officially announced the “sunsetting” of The Sims Mobile. After seven years of live service and over 50 content updates, the popular free-to-play title will be rendered completely unplayable as its dedicated servers are scheduled for closure early next year. This strategic pivot by EA is widely viewed as a clear-cut move to reallocate resources toward “Project Rene,” the next cross-platform generation of the main The Sims franchise, which is confirmed to include a mobile component.

Key Dates and Final Operational Timeline

For millions of “Simmers” who have invested their time, creativity, and often C.P.C. high-value funds into their virtual families and dream homes, the transition marks the end of an era. The following dates are critical for current players to note:

• October 20, 2025: The final content update for The Sims Mobile was released. Crucially, as of this date, all ability to purchase new in-game packs or buy SimCash or other currency with real-world money has been permanently disabled.
• October 21, 2025: The game was officially delisted from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. New players can no longer download the application. Existing players who have previously downloaded the app can still update or re-download it from their purchase/library history.
• January 6, 2026: EA will unlock all remaining Build Mode and Create A Sim (CAS) content for all players, regardless of level or previous progression. This is intended as a final “last hurrah” for the community to experience everything the title has to offer.
• January 20, 2026: At 1:59 PM UTC, the servers for The Sims Mobile will be completely switched off. Because all game progress is stored online, the title will cease to function and will be unplayable.

The Strategic Rationale: Project Rene and Resource Allocation

The decision to “kill off” The Sims Mobile is being interpreted by industry analysts as a classic live service business model termination driven by financial and strategic objectives. The seven-year-old title, developed by Firemonkeys Studios, was likely no longer meeting the high revenue targets required to justify the substantial operational costs of maintaining its dedicated servers, development team, and continuous content creation.

Strong Industry Insight: The game’s closure aligns perfectly with the development timeline for Project Rene, the successor to The Sims 4. EA and Maxis have made it clear that “Project Rene” is being engineered from the ground up for a true cross-platform experience, including seamless integration with mobile devices. By sunsetting the older mobile title, EA frees up internal development and financial resources—including those tied to mobile-centric advertising and marketing with high-value keywords—to ensure the maximum possible investment in their next flagship product.

Expert Opinion: “This move reflects a calculated risk, betting that sun-setting older titles will free up development teams for higher-potential ventures,” notes a recent analysis in the gaming press. “EA aims to recapture mobile audiences through innovative features like seamless cross-play in Project Rene.”

What This Means for Simmers: Refunds and Final Play

The announcement has sparked immediate concerns within the dedicated community, particularly regarding in-game purchases. EA has been explicit in its official communications:

• Refunds Policy: Unspent in-game currency, including SimCash, Simoleons, and Tickets, will not be eligible for a refund after the server shutdown on January 20, 2026. Players are strongly encouraged to use all remaining currency before this final date.
• Unlimited Play: To mitigate disappointment and encourage final engagement, EA has provided a generous compensatory measure in the final update: unlimited energy for all players. This eliminates the traditional “energy drain” barrier, allowing players to complete events, quests, and projects continuously during the remaining months.
• Final Events: The company has scheduled a series of final seasonal re-run events, including the “Eerie Autumn” event and “Season’s Greetings,” to allow players one last chance to earn rare items and fully build their virtual legacies.

This situation serves as a stark reminder of the inherent volatility and lack of preservation in the online-only live service model. Once the servers are gone, seven years of player data, stories, and creations in The Sims Mobile will be lost forever, intensifying calls in the broader gaming community for better preservation strategies for online games. The Sims Mobile will be missed by its community, but its end paves the way for the new and strategically significant era of “Project Rene.”

Source Note: Information is compiled from official EA announcements and confirmed reporting from major gaming news outlets following the October 20-21, 2025, delisting (EA, GameSpot, PCGamer).