This is how you do F2P, EA —

PSA: EA makes Sims 2 Ultimate free for all after ceasing support

Anybody can claim free copy via Origin code ahead of Sims 4 launch in September.

Whether you're still running a years-long instance of 2004's The Sims 2, complete with a family's dozens of generations babbling in Simlish while running into all matter of torture-inducing home spaces or haven't even played the game once, Electronic Arts has a giant, if ancient, freebie for you. Years after the game's "exchange" content website shuttered, the game's producer announced last week it would no longer post updates or patches for the decade-old game.

To ease the pain for all 50 players who'll never see their Radeon-related visual glitches fixed, EA gave all Sims 2 owners on the Origin PC games service a free upgrade to the game's "Ultimate Collection" version, which includes the game's eight expansion packs and nine "stuff" packs.

But what about players who didn't register the game on Origin (or, er, never bought The Sims 2 in the first place)? EA has them covered, too, because as of Wednesday, the company is now offering free downloads of The Sims 2: Ultimate Collection to all Origin members until July 31. Simply log in to Origin and use the redemption code "I-LOVE-THE-SIMS" to immediately jump into the "Apartment Life" expansion, the Ikea household pack, and everything else your dollhouse heart desires.

As The Sims 2 has been officially delisted from services like Origin and Steam for some time, this is currently the best way to grab a copy of the dated release—not to mention a good way to avoid paying over $100 buying boxed copies of every expansion. As this isn't part of Origin's "On The House" promo series, we figure that this is more likely a promotional stunt ahead of The Sims 4's impending September launch (a release that'll be doubly important to EA after the company delayed two of its biggest fall releases on Tuesday).

Channel Ars Technica