The Sims 4 community is reeling as Anadius, the infamous “pirate king” behind the Sims 4 Updater, seemingly vanishes from social media, leaving his beloved DLC unlocker tool defunct.
For context, Anadius created the Sims 4 Updater, a tool that allowed players to unlock nearly all The Sims 4 expansions and kits for free—saving users an estimated $1,449.05 in DLC costs. Though controversial, the tool became legendary among Sim players for giving them access to all expansions without paying EA’s steep prices.
Anadius announced his departure with a farewell post on Reddit:
“I decided to step down. Don’t pester my close friends, till the end I acted like the asshole I am and haven’t told them the reason why either. The Sims 4 Updater is dead dead, but the source code for my DLC unlocker tools is safe with the moderation team.”
He also noted that moderators can share the tool with anyone willing to maintain it in case it breaks, ensuring some continuity for the community.
Fans were quick to respond, mourning the loss of free DLC. One Simmer wrote, “I will forever be grateful for you,” while another lamented, “Welp. Guess I’m never playing The Sims again.” The community sees Anadius as an icon who provided access to content that many could not afford, and his departure feels like the end of an era.
The void has quickly led to attempts to fill it. Simmerella, a notable Sims 4 modder, is taking up the challenge of providing DLC access—but with a paid twist. Her unlocker requires fans to subscribe to her Patreon for same-day access to expansions, in stark contrast to Anadius’s entirely free tool. Many fans are frustrated:
“It basically destroys the whole purpose of what Anadius stood for and what pirating is about,” one fan commented.
The timing is especially hard on Sims players, as EA has confirmed there are no plans for a Sims 5, making the loss of free, pirated content feel even more impactful. Anadius’s exit marks not just the end of a tool, but the closing of a chapter in The Sims 4 community history.
