The Sims Mobile Will Close January 20, 2026; Final Unlocks, No Refunds

Electronic Arts (EA) and Maxis closed The Sims Mobile permanently on January 20, 2026 at 13:59 UTC, rendering the live-service mobile game unplayable because saves and progression required EA’s servers. The shutdown ended a seven-year run and came with a firm policy: EA confirmed there would be no refunds for unused in‑game currency.

The wind-down followed a staged sunset plan. A final update on October 20, 2025 disabled microtransactions and granted unlimited energy so players could spend remaining currencies and complete outstanding goals. The app was removed from the App Store and Google Play on October 21, 2025, though players were still able to re-download the game from their purchase histories until servers went dark. On January 6, 2026, all Build Mode and Create-A-Sim (CAS) items were unlocked for every player as a last thank-you and to let the community create freely ahead of closure.

Because The Sims Mobile relied on online servers to store save data, progress and accounts stopped functioning when EA switched off the backend. Players who did not spend in‑game currency or use items during the final months cannot recover that value; EA’s no-refund stance applies to any unused purchases tied to the shuttered service. Re-downloads and in-app access ended with the server shutdown, so local device copies cannot restore live accounts or progression.

The closure reflects a wider shift in EA’s Sims strategy toward cross-platform, next-generation projects such as Project Rene, which prioritizes consolidated development efforts over sustaining multiple live mobile services. For Simmers, content creators, and mobile preservation advocates, the shutdown highlights persistent challenges: how to archive player creativity, how to value virtual goods, and how to plan for the end of monetized live services.

Practical takeaways for anyone affected include collecting what you can from remaining local files and social archives. If you want to preserve builds, screenshots, CAS creations, or run-through footage, capture and back up images and videos now while local device content is still accessible. Community hubs, content creators, and archival efforts will likely become the primary places to revisit The Sims Mobile’s designs and events.

The end of The Sims Mobile closes a chapter of mobile Simming but signals where EA is directing resources next. For players who invested time and money, the immediate reality is that the game is gone and in‑app purchases are final; for the community, the next steps are preservation, sharing what was made, and watching how Project Rene and other cross-platform efforts reshape the Sims experience.