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mary_balakucha's avatar
mary_balakucha
Seasoned Novice
17 days ago

Question about EA Maker Program eligibility for a creator residing in Russia

I would like to ask EA for clarification regarding the eligibility requirements for The Sims Maker Program.

According to EA's official information about the program, one of the requirements for becoming a Maker is:

"Not reside in an EA-embargoed region."

EA's own information about regional restrictions also lists Russia among the countries affected by EA embargoes, sanctions, or other legal restrictions.

At the same time, I recently noticed that SolovejCC, a Russian custom content creator, has been accepted into The Sims Maker Program and is publishing content through the official The Sims 4 Marketplace.

This is particularly notable because the Maker Program is not simply a community recognition program. Approved Makers can publish their content directly on the official in-game Marketplace and receive revenue from sales. EA states that Makers receive approximately 30% of the Moola spent on their Maker Packs.

There are several public indications that SolovejCC is currently based in Russia. Her YouTube channel identifies Russia as its country, and through her Telegram channel she directs her audience to the Russian messenger MAX.

I am not asking about her nationality or ethnicity, and I am not asking EA to make a judgment about an individual creator. My question is specifically about the application of EA's own eligibility requirements.

If Russia is considered an EA-embargoed region, how was a creator residing in Russia accepted into the Maker Program?

And if creators residing in Russia are in fact eligible for the Maker Program, could EA clarify how this is consistent with the stated requirement that Makers must not reside in an EA-embargoed region?

I would appreciate a clear explanation of the current policy and how eligibility is determined.

17 Replies

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  • OksanaL24's avatar
    OksanaL24
    Seasoned Newcomer
    17 days ago

    That is a very valid question. I would like to hear an explanation from EA as to how this case aligns with the official requirements for Maker Program participants.

  • I completely agree. The fact that they allowed this to happen makes it painfully obvious that these rules and “checks” may exist only on paper.
    This creator lives in a sanctioned country, and I would like an explanation of how her work ended up on the Marketplace. As someone who has spent a considerable amount of money on this game: on expansion packs, game packs, kits and other content, I have every right to demand answers. EA’s rules are supposed to apply to everyone equally, not selectively when it’s convenient. If they are actually enforcing these rules, then they need to explain exactly how this was allowed to happen. And if they aren’t, then what exactly is the point of having these rules at all?

  • pipa_rozheva's avatar
    pipa_rozheva
    Seasoned Newcomer
    17 days ago

    Hello! How does a creator residing in an EA-embargoed country bypass the primary requirement of the Maker Program?

    ​EA’s official policy strictly prohibits participants from embargoed regions (where russia is clearly listed). Yet, we now see official Marketplace content that directly contradicts that rule.

    ​Selectively enforcing rules destroys community trust and breaches legal compliance standards. EA needs to audit this creator’s eligibility and take action immediately.

    Thank you in advance!

  • Strichka's avatar
    Strichka
    Seasoned Newcomer
    17 days ago

    Share! If you say this in your own rules, you need to follow them! I hope EA make something with it. Because, if you don't follow rules you make, why do we need them at all?