Electronic Arts (EA) has delivered a significant announcement that will impact millions of mobile gamers worldwide: The Sims Mobile is scheduled for a definitive shutdown. The servers for the popular life simulation game will be permanently taken offline on January 20, 2026, at 1:59 PM UTC, bringing an end to its nearly eight-year run since its global launch in March 2018. This news, confirmed in an official blog post by the development team, marks the final chapter for the game and is sending ripples across the dedicated Sims community and the broader mobile gaming landscape.

The decision to discontinue support for a long-running title is a complex one, often rooted in shifting market dynamics, resource allocation, and a focus on new development initiatives. While EA did not explicitly state the core reasons for the closure, industry analysts point to the impending arrival of Project Rene—the next-generation, cross-platform iteration of The Sims—as a major contributing factor. Consolidating the mobile experience under a unified platform may be a strategic move to focus game development resources, aiming for a more cohesive and technologically advanced future for the franchise.

Key Dates and Final Preparations for The Sims Mobile Players

For current players, the immediate future is a mix of final content and important deadlines. EA has outlined a structured sunset plan to allow users to enjoy the final months of the game:

• October 20, 2025: The final content update for The Sims Mobile (TSM) was released. Critically, players were granted unlimited energy from this date forward, enabling faster progress through careers, hobbies, and events—a notable gesture to maximize final gameplay. Furthermore, real-money purchases of in-game packs were disabled.
• October 21, 2025: The game was officially delisted from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. New downloads are no longer possible, but existing users can still update or re-download the game from their purchase or library history until the final shutdown date.
• January 6, 2026: In a significant move to ensure players can experience all content, EA will unlock all Build Mode and Create A Sim (CAS) items for everyone. This allows players to fully customize their homes and Sims’ appearances without needing to spend currency.
• January 20, 2026: The definitive date. All servers will shut down, and the game will become completely inaccessible and unplayable. No refunds will be offered for unspent SimCash, Simoleons, or other virtual currencies after this date, underscoring the urgency for players to utilize their balances.

The TSM team has also scheduled a series of 14 final in-game events, including limited-time quests and Treasure Hunts, running until the closure. This final content roadmap is intended to give players a nostalgic send-off and a chance to complete long-standing goals.

Analyzing the Business Case: The Mobile Market Competition

The closure of one of two concurrent Sims mobile games invites a comparison with the franchise’s other popular mobile offering, The Sims FreePlay. Launched in 2011, FreePlay is significantly older but has historically shown remarkable resilience and profitability. Data from market intelligence firms reveals that in the period following TSM’s launch, The Sims FreePlay revenue often doubled that of its younger counterpart, despite TSM garnering over $25 million in worldwide revenue within its first six months.

The revenue disparity likely played a role in the long-term viability assessment of The Sims Mobile. While TSM aimed for a gameplay loop closer to The Sims 4, focusing on shorter, energy-gated actions and direct social interaction, FreePlay offers a different structure, often viewed as more akin to classic Sims titles with a focus on long-term progression and property management. For an AAA game development studio, maintaining two separate, fully-featured mobile titles in a highly competitive market like mobile gaming presents an intensive resource drain. The opportunity cost of keeping TSM running likely outweighed its potential revenue against the backdrop of developing the next major installment, Project Rene.

The Future of The Sims Franchise: Project Rene and Cross-Platform Integration

The shutdown is intrinsically linked to the ongoing development of Project Rene, which EA and Maxis officially announced in 2022. Early information suggests this new game will be designed for seamless cross-platform play, running across PC, consoles, and mobile devices. This vision for a unified experience logically renders a standalone mobile title like The Sims Mobile redundant.

Project Rene is expected to bring significant advancements in game graphics, online gaming infrastructure, and player creativity tools. The technological pivot suggests EA is prioritizing a unified digital ecosystem for The Sims, potentially maximizing future monetization strategies and community growth under a single, robust platform. For fans, the looming shutdown is a bittersweet farewell, marking the end of a beloved game but also signaling the imminent move towards the next era of life simulation gaming.

Players who have invested significant time and money in TSM are now faced with the reality of digital game preservation. As the game requires a persistent online connection, it will be lost entirely when the servers close, a stark reminder of the fragile nature of service-based video games in the modern industry. This event is prompting renewed discussion on user rights, in-game purchases, and the long-term archiving of online-only games.