Why was my wedding stories banned in Russia?

My Wedding Stories, a game pack for The Sims 4, was banned in Russia due to the country’s Article 6.13.1, a law that prohibits “propaganda or homosexualism among minors”, as the game allows characters of the same gender to marry and raise children. This law has led to the restriction of various LGBTQ+ content in Russia, including video games, to prevent them from being accessed by minors.

Background and Context

The ban on My Wedding Stories is not the first instance of The Sims 4 facing restrictions in Russia. In 2014, the game received an “18+” rating due to its depiction of same-sex relationships, which prevented minors from purchasing it. This rating was a result of Russia’s strict laws regarding LGBTQ+ content.

Related FAQs

General Information

1. Is The Sims 4 banned in Russia?: No, The Sims 4 is not completely banned in Russia, but it has an “18+” rating due to its depiction of same-sex relationships.
2. What countries is Sims 4 banned in?: The Sims 4 is banned in several countries in Asia, including China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Egypt.
3. Which country has the most banned games?: Mainland China has a large number of banned video games, primarily due to content depicting drugs, sexuality, blood, organized crime, or defamation of the Chinese government.

Content Restrictions

4. What is inappropriate about Sims 4?: Some players create modifications that include nudity, drugs, violence, and other actions considered inappropriate for younger players.
5. What content is banned in Russia?: Websites can be blocked for containing child pornography, materials advocating drug abuse, items on the Federal List of Extremist Materials, or fake information about war or invasion of Ukraine.

App and Game Bans

6. What apps did Russia ban?: Russia has banned several apps, including WeChat, Telegram, JW Library app, Alexei Navalny app, Line, Discord, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Snapchat, Telegram, Threema, Viber, WhatsApp, and WeChat within government organizations.
7. Did EA ban Russian players?: Yes, EA removed Russia and Belarus as eligible countries in their esports programs.
8. Did FIFA disqualify Russia?: Initially, yes, but later, FIFA lifted the ban, allowing Russian teams to participate in international tournaments.

Platform Availability

9. Is Russia still in FIFA 22?: No, Russian teams are no longer playable on FIFA 22.
10. Is OnlyFans legal in Russia?: No, OnlyFans is not accessible in Russia, as it has been blocked.
11. Is TikTok banned in Russia?: While TikTok is not completely banned, Russian users are banned from uploading new content, and the platform is limited.

Legal and Regulatory Aspects

12. Why is Spotify banned in Russia?: Spotify pulled out of Russia due to a new law that threatens jail for spreading “fake news” about the country’s armed forces.
13. Is Gmail blocked in Russia?: Yes, Gmail and other Google services have been partially blocked in Russia as a result of the government’s attempt to prevent the use of Telegram.
14. Is Netflix forbidden in Russia?: While Netflix is not completely forbidden, it is not available in Russia without a VPN, and users need a non-Russian payment method to create an account.

International Comparisons

15. Which two countries have banned TikTok completely?: Afghanistan and India are the only two countries with a complete ban on TikTok.