My introduction to the Sims 1, thanks to my father, sparked a lifelong love for the game. Yet, throughout many hours spent creating virtual worlds and narratives, I have noticed a significant oversight. The cultures represented in the game are not fully reflective of the world’s cultural richness and diversity. We specifically lack representation for African, Arabic, Caribbean, and Australian cultures.

Understanding and normalizing cultural diversity is crucial and one way we can achieve this is through popular forms of entertainment like the Sims. It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion people in Africa, roughly 2 billion in the Arab world, 44 million people of Caribbean descent, and almost 25 million people in Australia too – and yet, the rich, diverse cultures from these regions are poorly represented or missing entirely in the Sims.

It is now time for Maxis to embrace this diversity and offer its global player base a chance to experience and appreciate cultures beyond those that currently exist in the game. The inclusion of expansion packs featuring African, Arabic, Caribbean and Australian cultures will bring the lived experiences, traditions, and histories of millions of people into the spotlight.

We urge Maxis to take up this request and contribute towards a more inclusive and culturally rich gaming experience. Let's celebrate global cultures in all their variance and beauty. Help us make a powerful statement about the importance of cultural inclusion in virtual environments. Sign this petition to ask Maxis to create expansion packs that incorporate the cultures that have so far been sidelined.