An expansion pack for My Wedding Stories in Russian markets due to censorship laws surrounding the subject of gay marriage.
The Sims has a storied history with the concept of same-sex relationships. In the original 2000 release, players could have two characters of the same gender engage with romantic acts, but characters of this type could not get married until The Sims 2 was released in 2004. Since then, same-sex marriage has been a staple in Sims games and its corresponding DLC - at least in certain areas. Sims 4 DLC My Wedding Stories will feature the tale of two women, Camille and Dominique, who end up together against all odds, as seen in a recent Sims My Wedding Stories trailer. While fans of The Sims are typically ive of LGBTQ+ representation in-game, concerns were raised by EA and The Sims Team regarding the DLC's release in Russia, a country that has strict censorship laws that might have prevented the developers from portraying this story as it was intended. Ultimately, the publisher decided not to release the DLC in Russia at all.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, The Sims 4 My Wedding Stories' lack of a Russian release resulted in backlash from fans, including from dedicated Sims website, releasing the next Sims 4 DLC overseas. Whatever the case may be on that front, a post on the EA website has cleared things up, stating the expansion will, in fact, be launching in Russia in spite of any potential censorship laws. The statement claims that the entirety of the My Wedding Stories DLC pack would be released "unaltered and unchanged" in Russia, though the Game Pack is being delayed from February 17 to 23.
This decision is undoubtedly a net positive for LGBTQ+ representation in The Sims 4 and beyond, especially in more conservative markets. EA has previously made great improvements to make The Sims 4 as inclusive as possible, with changes including gender-neutral pronouns and new skin-tone options. However, it's worth noting that even if the Russian release of My Wedding Stories does result in a fine, an outcome resulting in profit for EA could possibly undercut any of the altruistic spirit portrayed in the company's statement.
Whatever the relationship between EA, The Sims, and its fans will be characterized by in the coming weeks and months, at least Russian players will have the chance to play this story expansion. LGBTQ+ representation in media, particularly in games, is an ongoing battle, so every victory counts. And as contentious and complex as this Sims 4 DLC release is, it still seems to be a victory.
Source: Sims Community, EA
