Returning to The Sims 2 can mean sorting out how to start the game on your computer and how to bring your saved households and custom files with you. The Legacy Collection has its own requirements and save location. Work through those details before combining a save transfer with changes to your mods.
A 2025 return for the 25th anniversary
The Sims 2: Legacy Collection arrived on PC on 31 January 2025, as part of the series' 25th anniversary celebrations, according to Eurogamer's launch report. EA describes the re-release as keeping the same gameplay while adapting it for modern computers and operating systems. That is the useful starting point for a returning player: familiar play, with some practical differences to check before importing a neighborhood or adding files. The launch report also notes that the Ultimate Collection had been removed from Origin in 2018. Distinguish that edition from the Legacy Collection when choosing which save-location instructions to follow.
What the collection includes
EA's requirements, saves, and mods guide lists the base game and the following Sims 2 packs. It also lists The Sims 4: Grunge Revival Kit; keep that separate when reading the Sims 2 contents.
- The Sims 2: University
- The Sims 2: Nightlife
- The Sims 2: Open for Business
- The Sims 2: Pets
- The Sims 2: Bon Voyage
- The Sims 2: Seasons
- The Sims 2: FreeTime
- The Sims 2: Apartment Life
- The Sims 2: Holiday Party Pack
- The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff
- The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff
- The Sims 2: Happy Holiday Stuff
- The Sims 2: Celebration! Stuff
- The Sims 2: H&M Fashion Stuff
- The Sims 2: Teen Style Stuff
- The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff
- The Sims 2: Mansion & Garden Stuff
Use these names when reading a mod's requirements. A reference to an expansion and a reference to the re-release answer different questions, so keep both in your notes.
What changed under the hood
EA says the collection runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and uses DirectX 9.c. Its minimum PC specification lists 4GB RAM and 16GB of available storage, with an i3 3220, Ryzen 3 1200, or AMD FX6300 processor. The listed graphics options are an NVIDIA GTX 600 series or later, AMD Radeon HD 7000 series or later, or Intel HD Graphics 620 series or later. Compare the individual parts of your PC with that list instead of relying on its age alone. EA also recommends keeping graphics and audio drivers up to date when preparing your PC.
EA also identifies fixes for black shadow boxes beneath Sims and neighborhoods where most objects appear pink. Its description is deliberately limited: fixes were made where safe without changing the game's design, while bugs whose fixes carried major risks were left alone. Treat those examples as specific changes; they do not promise that every problem has disappeared.
Bringing old saves across
EA says older Sims 2 saves can work provided they are not corrupted. A damaged save can cause missing content, crashes, or other problems, so compatibility is conditional. The destination is My Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 2 Legacy, rather than simply whichever folder an earlier installation used.
- Move the current The Sims 2 Legacy folder to a different location and rename it so you can identify it as your alternate save.
- Rename the old save folder you want to import The Sims 2 Legacy.
- Copy that folder into My Documents > Electronic Arts.
Those are separate operations: setting aside the current save, naming the incoming folder, and copying it into the new location. Keep the alternate copy identifiable so the two sets are not confused. For the transfer described here, use the Electronic Arts path in EA's save-file instructions and keep the incoming folder's name exact.
Mods and custom content on the new version
EA says mod capabilities remain the same, but Maxis has not tested mods and does not support them. Individual mod creators are responsible for ensuring their work functions with this version. That statement does not establish compatibility for any particular download.
Read a creator's information with that distinction in mind. Look for a statement about the version you intend to use, and keep save transfers separate from decisions about custom files. The Getting Started guide explains the general installation routine and the habit of keeping backups before making changes.
Launch fixes and troubleshooting
The patch report published by Eurogamer on 5 February 2025 described fixes for crashes, an 800x600 launch-resolution issue, some DirectX launch errors, and some infinite loading screens. It also listed fixes for Sims disappearing after changing lots or reloading, and for disappearing children and pets. These are reported fixes from that patch, rather than a guarantee about any individual installation. The same notes explain that boolProp testingCheatsEnabled can periodically produce debugging dialogs as expected. Mention whether that cheat is active when describing such a message, instead of assuming every dialog signals a separate failure.
For a launch problem, EA's troubleshooting guide starts with the minimum requirements, available drive space, and graphics and audio drivers. It describes -w for windowed mode and -r1400x900 as an example of choosing a launch resolution. For the DirectX graphics-card error, EA says updated drivers or forcing windowed mode can sometimes help.
EA also lists -nosound to disable sound and -l:French as an example of changing language. Keep launch options identifiable in your notes so you can tell which setting you were using when a symptom appeared.
If you want to move the running game to another monitor, EA advises pressing Alt + Enter to enter windowed mode first. Choose the advice that matches the symptom, and keep a note of which option you tried before moving to another. That makes a launch error, a display problem, and a save-transfer question easier to describe clearly.