Electronic Arts (EA) faces mounting challenges in combating the spread of a controversial mod for its popular life simulation game, The Sims 4. In the time since its release in March 2023, DEI Remover 1.0.0 has garnered massive popularity. Its goal is to purge anything connected to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from the game. This mod improves the overall roleplaying experience by altering the way nonplayable characters are racially diversified. It changes how we see LGBTQ+ relationships on screen, enriching our narratives.
The DEI Remover 1.0.0 from Tomo Drug Discovery completely flips that script. It changes Black NPCs to default to “white,” relabels LGBT cohabitating couples as roommates, and makes NPCs uglier in exchange for subjecting them to heteronormative beauty standards. The character is portrayed as “healthy” as opposed to “fat” and all the natural vivacious colors of her hair are replaced with more typical colors. Legions of gamers across social media platforms took to arms against the revisions. This anger has understandably created serious calls for action against the mod.
In April 2025, EA released a major free update for The Sims 4. This addition incited players to play with their own customizable pronouns in-game, illustrating EA’s continued commitment to favoring inclusivity through gameplay. The company began selling downloadable content that includes LGBT-themed clothing and decor. This move further reflects its commitment to embracing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the game. The recent growth of the DEI Remover mod stands to wipe those efforts out.
It gained even more virality when @DanielleBuilds, a popular Sims creator with over 300,000 Facebook followers, posted a screenshot to Facebook. Her post has led to an explosion of anticipation and enthusiasm from fans. In her post, she instructed her followers on how to flag the mod. Most importantly, she stressed the rising alarm from creators and consumers alike about what it means. EA’s attempts to shut down the mod included a statement from Lisa Chin, EA’s IP senior counsel, who asserted that the company is actively addressing copyright infringements associated with the mod.
“It has come to our attention that you are hosting material that infringes copyrights owned or controlled by EA” – Lisa Chin, EA’s IP senior counsel.
Despite EA’s efforts, the DEI Remover mod was quickly reposted in a new thread with a disclaimer claiming “Fair Use,” accompanied by instructions for downloading it. This action is part of a larger trend among more rogue gaming communities in which players consistently and unapologetically disregard a publisher’s terms of service. One commenter on the RPGHQ forum encapsulated this sentiment by stating, “cut off one head, two more shall take its place. heil hydra,” implying that attempts to suppress such mods may only encourage further proliferation.
The controversy surrounding DEI Remover 1.0.0 is not unique to The Sims 4. Many other similar mods advocating sexist, racist, homophobic, and antisemitic ideologies have emerged across several major games. Those counter arguments fall woefully short. Many members of the modding community have especially criticized the inflammatory nature of these mods. They claim that these types of mods go against the very inclusivity and respect that gaming spaces, online or otherwise, should have.
In addition to the users who are threatening those behind the DEI Remover mod, others have gone a more tongue-in-cheek route. A commenter on TikTok quipped, “may everyone who downloads this experience the worst save corruption bugs,” suggesting that those who choose to engage with such mods may face technical setbacks as a form of poetic justice.
The emergence of mods such as DEI Remover 1.0.0 takes place amidst a growing national frenzy over DEI programs and policies. Recent political movements and regressive executive orders specifically aimed at these initiatives have cultivated an environment in which even the most marginalized perspectives are coming under greater attack. The backlash against such efforts not only provides a cautionary tale for gaming, but is indicative of larger cultural wars brewing in society over representation, inclusivity, and identity.
EA is charting some pretty uncharted waters. At the same time, it should protect creative freedom as much as possible while still maintaining its right to demand upholding community standards and protecting its intellectual property rights. The company’s moderator policy essentially grants it the authority to remove any mods that violate its terms. Upholding this policy is incredibly difficult when players can quickly and efficiently share and distribute mods on their own.
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