At the beginning of April 2025, the release of the computer game “The Russians” was discussed in social networks - the Russian analogue of The Sims was stated. We checked whether such a game was really on sale.

On April 4, photos of the DVD-disk box with the game “The Russians” began to spread on the network. He was allegedly noticed in one of the stores of St. Petersburg, the name of which was not specified. Judging by the description on the back of the box, the game suggests "plunging into the atmosphere of the Russian village, where time flows leisurely, and the main values are faith, family and love for the native land." Many Internet users notedthat the characters on the cover resemble the head of the safe Internet league Ekaterina Mizulin and singer Shaman. Among the large Telegram channels, this news was published "Live broadcast. News"(786,000 views at the time of writing this analysis),"Creative with an asterisk"(335,000) and"The client is always right"(230,000). Mizulina herself also shared a picture with subscribers (234,000 views) and Commented his: "Where to buy one?" In addition, the news was published by numerous media, including "Gazeta.ru" URA.RU And "Chalk"As well as users X, "VKontakte" Instagram And YouTube.

In September 2023 in the State Duma of the Russian Federation Offered Create the domestic analogue of The Sims game in order to translate “Russian traditional values” with the help of the virtual world. By opinion The authors of the initiative, the Russian simulator will have to reflect the fundamentals of civil law: to raise topics, corruption, payment of utilities, as well as give players the opportunity to commit unlawful actions for which criminal punishment would be imposed. In February 2025, the Yakut Studio Monsterattack Issued game Panelka - The simulator of the arrangement of the apartment, inspired by The Sims, but in the characteristic post -Soviet surroundings.

Personnel from the game Panelka. Source: vgtimes.ru

Photos of the box “The Russians” that appeared in April are suspicious for several reasons. Firstly, in the photograph of the back of the disk, system requirements are indicated: Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7, Intel Celeron M 1.5 GHZ / AMD Sempron 2200+ processor. They Correct Games released more than 15 years ago, and far from modern. Secondly, the box itself also looks shabby, and it is unlikely that it just got to the store shelves. Thirdly, judging by the price tag, the game is sold for 119 rubles, although in specialized St. Petersburg stores prices even for former use of discs Calculated thousands of rubles.

In addition, despite the very widespread news (according to TGSTAT, almost 7 million views only in Telegram), all users share the same two photos of the box. In the case of a real existing game, especially causing such public interest, there would be many pictures, reviews and videos from different users on the Internet. April 7 in some Telegram channels still appeared videoon which a kind of woman holds a box in her hand, and then supposedly shows in the video Record gameplay causing the excitement of the game. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the first part of the video was created using a video editor or artificial intelligence: a woman’s finger was superimposed on top of a viral photograph (for example, the location of the price tag and its unevenness coincides).

“Verified” managed to find the source of this video. He was created by Instagram user @the_sims4_world_. On April 4, the blogger posted video With the signature: “Who has already played this new game? "The Russians" is just super! " And four days later appeared The second part Video - with a church, a bath and a manual bear. Nevertheless, in the comments @the_sims4_world_ admitted that this video from the addition to the license game "The Sims 4: Country Life", Published on July 22, 2021. Indeed, the graphics of the game "The Russians" are completely coincided with graphics that original game.

Screenshot supposedly from gameplay "The Russians" and the frame with site Official developer The Sims 4

In response to a comment by one of the users “is it true? Or someone just recreated it (the game "The Russians."-Approx. Ed.) In the usual "Sim-4" with the corresponding mods? " Blogger wrote: "This is" Sims ", of course." And in another comment she added that, most likely, the game “The Russians” does not exist: apparently, someone simply printed the cover and put it in the old box from the disk.

This version is also confirmed by the fact that modifications (fashion) and additions for The Sims 4 in 2025 Distributing Mostly via the Internet, not on physical media. There are user ones modificationsthat add elements of Russian culture to The Sims: for example, fashion from Russian kitchen And clothes, With bath and Orthodox icons, mods for replacing American names with Russians, etc. However, users and enthusiasts, as a rule, are divided through specialized sites And Forums like Sims 4 Updater, not on discs through retail stores.

User modifications For The Sims with Russian surroundings

The earliest “tested” publication, containing two hunched photos, appeared in the Telegram channel "Creative with an asterisk"April 4 at 14:59 Moscow time.

Thus, most likely, the game “The Russians” or the corresponding fashion for The Sims does not exist. News about its appearance arose thanks to two photos of a box with a DVD-disk. However, apparently, the authors of the pictures simply created the corresponding cover, printed it and inserted it into the box with the old game.

Photo on the cover: Telegram