The Sims Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Free Content Update And Streaming Event - 1

Photo by ELLA DON on Unsplash

The Sims Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Free Content Update And Streaming Event

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

The video game developer Maxis, a division of Electronic Arts (EA), has announced new updates, a streaming event, and free new features and content to celebrate The Sims franchise’s 25th anniversary.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • Maxis announced new features, kits, updates, and events to celebrate The Sims franchise’s 25th anniversary.
  • A 25-hour streaming will take place on February 4 on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok, and the game developer will release over 70 new in-game items.
  • The game developers will continue to announce new items and share more updates in the following days.

According to the official announcement , the anniversary is on February 4th and the game developer will host a 25-hour livestream celebration on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok starting a 2 pm PT.

Maxis will release over 70 new in-game items for The Sims 4 and The Sims FreePlay , allowing users to enjoy new hairstyles, accessories, and clothing for sims of all ages, and also new building items.

Celebrate 25 years of The Sims! 🎂 Save the dates & tune in to celebrate The Sims for weeks to come! 🎉 #TheSims25 https://t.co/Xf7U45igGa pic.twitter.com/BdnErVxlZE — The Sims (@TheSims) January 14, 2025

However, the game developers will not limit their offerings to the anniversary date or just one game version. On January 16, Maxis will release new kits such as Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits , and the Comfy Gamer Kit for users to create a game room for their sims. By the end of the month, the game company expects to share nostalgic elements from previous versions of The Sims , and more iconic items from the 2000s during the live and in-game event The Sims 4 Blast From The Past Event .

Other game developers have also appealed to player’s nostalgia to launch new products or services. A few months ago, Atari launched an expansion with 39 game additions to celebrate its 50th birthday, and Nintendo added Mega Man classic games to Nintendo Switch Online.

Maxis will share more updates during the next few days, and promised a surprise on February 25, and lightning enhancements for Sims FreePlay in March.

OpenAI Introduces ‘Tasks’ Feature to ChatGPT for Scheduling Reminders - 2

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

OpenAI Introduces ‘Tasks’ Feature to ChatGPT for Scheduling Reminders

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

OpenAI announced on Tuesday a new beta version of tasks for ChatGPT, which allows users to set reminders and get assistance with recurring actions. The new feature will roll out first for Plus, Pro, and Teams users.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • OpenAI is rolling out a new task feature in beta mode for ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Teams users.
  • ChatGPT is taking on roles traditionally performed by virtual assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa.
  • Users can access the new feature through the chat or the profile menu.

According to the announcement shared on X , users will access the tasks page through the profile menu or the chat.

Today we’re rolling out a beta version of tasks—a new way to ask ChatGPT to do things for you at a future time. Whether it’s one-time reminders or recurring actions, tell ChatGPT what you need and when, and it will automatically take care of it. pic.twitter.com/7lgvsPehHv — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 14, 2025

“You can schedule tasks you want ChatGPT to do, such as send you a weekly global news briefing, get a daily personalized 15-minute workout, or set a reminder for the future,” states one of the posts.

According to the information shared on OpenAI’s help center , the tasks feature will be available on ChatGPT Web, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Windows users will need to wait a few more weeks.

Users don’t have to be online for ChatGPT to work on the scheduled tasks. The chatbot will do it automatically and notify users via email or push notifications once it finishes the task—this must be allowed in the browser settings for those using the web version.

In December, OpenAI released multiple new features as part of its Christmas program “12 Days of OpenAI” including a phone number to communicate with ChatGPT , a real-time video feature for ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, and a new Pro version with a $200 monthly subscription .