A mod for The Sims 4 that eliminated LGBT and Black nonplayable characters (NPCs) from the sport and robotically modified them to “straight” and “white,” respectively, has reappeared despite EA’s makes an attempt to close it down. WIRED has discovered dozens of comparable racist, homophobic, and antisemitic mods for different widespread video games.
The Sims mod, referred to as DEI Remover 1.0.0, was first made obtainable in March final 12 months, however it not too long ago blew up after @DanielleBuilds, a Sims creator with over 300,000 followers, posted a screenshot of it on Fb and requested folks to report it. Along with eradicating Black NPCs, the mod was designed to make NPCs “wholesome, (not fats),” switched colourful hair sorts to “pure” hair colours, and altered any LGBT {couples} sharing a house within the sport to siblings. A photograph accompanying an overview of the mod exhibits NPC Celeste Michaelson, who’s Black and trans, being modified to a white lady.
An admin on the online game discussion board RPGHQ mentioned that they obtained a request from the IP enforcement division of EA to delist the mod. The admin, who goes by the consumer title “Rusty Shackleford,” described this as an act of focused censorship, and included screenshots of what they mentioned was correspondence with EA.
”I write on behalf of Digital Arts Inc. (“EA”). It has come to our consideration that you’re internet hosting materials that infringes copyrights owned or managed by EA,” reads the screenshotted e-mail, mentioned to be from EA’s IP senior counsel Lisa Chin. The e-mail identifies the DEI Remover mod because the “infringing materials.” EA has not responded to WIRED’s request for remark.
On Might 6, the unique put up moved to a new thread, the place the mod was reposted with a copyright disclaimer for “Honest Use” together with directions for downloading it. Some commenters cheered and jeered the repost, with one saying “minimize off one head, two extra shall take its place. heil hydra,” and one other saying, “Yea I am certain antagonizing litigious publishers will work out effectively.”
The Sims has a monitor file of tradition and LGBT illustration going again over a decade. In 2023 the franchise featured the Celeste Michaelson NPC within the growth pack Rising Collectively, whereas in 2022 it featured a lesbian couple on the quilt of the My Wedding ceremony Tales sport pack. That very same 12 months, The Sims 4 supplied a free replace to permit customers to add gender identification to their sport with customizable pronouns, and in April 2025, the sport launched free downloadable content material that includes LGBT-themed garments and decor. The franchise has additionally launched gadgets to assist have fun holidays prior to now, comparable to Juneteenth-themed clothes, Christmas timber, Hanukkah menorahs, and Kwanzaa kinaras.
In the meantime websites like Patreon proceed to host mods that erase this variety in The Sims 4. Along with DEI Remover, RPGHQ hosts dozens of controversial mods for different video games, together with a mod referred to as “Balduran Salutes Hitler” for Baldur’s Gate 3, and “Negro Remover” for Stalker 2. WIRED discovered one Patreon account from December that includes a mod that switches out inclusive language, comparable to altering “partner” to “husband and spouse,” and removes the pronouns on premade sims. That Patreon creator defined they created it as a result of the franchise had “totally embraced the pronouns (sic) idiocy.” WIRED has reached out to Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios, and Patreon, and has not obtained a response.
