What is NewSO?

NewSO ("New Simulator Online") is a reimplementation of The Sims Online™'s game engine, using C# and Monogame. While NewSO aims to be faithful to the original game, it includes many quality of life changes such as hardware rendering, custom dynamic lighting, hi-res output, and >2 floor houses.

How do I play?

If you simply wish to play, you can install NewSO and the original TSO files using our installer+launcher available from https://newso.thenewsimsonline.com/download.html and it will connect to our official servers. You can also register an account on this page, and find links to our communities where you can find support for the game and reports on server status.

Note that our installer downloads the original TSO files from EA's official servers. These files are required to make NewSO behave like TSO, and are not unofficially distributed:

http://largedownloads.ea.com/pub/misc/tso/

Fair Use Policy

On its own, the NewSO client does not display any copyrighted material, and is not distributed with it. The game files are provided by the user, and the client simply reads the files the user provides. In this sense, our replacement client is essentially a glorified The Sims Online™ file reader, as all original graphics, sounds, UI layouts, and game objects are simply read and simulated by the client. The same goes for all our other tools and extensions for The Sims franchise games.

The game server transmits metadata generated from the execution of these scripts (avatar money values, lot/object state, avatar appearances, hash of game files for version identification) but does not transmit any copyrighted material.

We will not accept any code or content that violates the policy above in our repo.

Community Rules

No Explicit Content

Do not post pornographic, erotic, nude, suggestive, or overtly sexual content, including explicit Sims game images.

No Violence or Cruelty

Avoid sharing violent, cruel, or graphically disturbing content.

Respect All Members

Harassment, witch-hunting, sexism, racism, and hate speech are strictly prohibited.

No Piracy

Do not share or request serial numbers, cracks, warez, or any piracy-related materials.

No Spam

Do not flood channels with excessive messages, repeats, or cross-channel spamming.

No Abuse of Mentions

Do not misuse @mentions or assignable role features.

Language Policy

Public channels are English-only unless dedicated language channels exist.

Follow Channel-Specific Rules

Each channel may have additional guidelines. Follow them.

Age Requirement

Participation is limited to users who are 18 years of age or older.

Additional Rules

Doxxing & Personal Information Exposure

• Do not share real names, usernames, or personal details of others.
• Do not mention someone's location, job, or social media.
• Do not post screenshots of conversations that may include private messages.

Harassment & Cyberstalking

• Do not target individuals with repeated negative commentary.
• Do not encourage gathering private user details, including Discord logs.
• Do not track users across different platforms or games.

Unauthorized Data Collection

• Do not archive or share private Discord conversations.
• Do not use tools like DiscordChatExporter for log gathering.
• Do not bypass invite-only servers for the purpose of data collection.

Defamation & Slander

• Do not make false accusations of illegal activity without verified evidence.
• Avoid speculation about others' relationships, mental health, or finances.
• Do not make claims that could harm reputations without proof.

Invasion of Online Anonymity

• Do not link usernames from different platforms to real identities.
• Do not bring up unrelated past actions from other communities.
• Do not identify behavior patterns that could expose someone's habits.

Potential Intellectual Property Violations

• Do not distribute private game development information (e.g., source code, API details).
• Do not use or share stolen assets from EA or Nintendo.

Moderation & Support Policy

Moderation does not cover personal conflicts between users except in the following cases:

• Bypassing of ignore/ban lists or deliberate provocation may result in a global ban.
• Interfering with Job Lot gameplay (e.g., performing no work or obstructing others) will be strictly enforced.

Support Disclaimer: We do not provide support for third-party clients or servers. This server only supports official NewSO gameplay. Any claims of other official servers are false.

Voice Chat & Advertisement Policy

Voice Chat Conduct

No disruptive sounds, feedback, echoing, or abusive behavior in voice channels. Violators will be muted, kicked, or banned as appropriate.

Advertisement Policy

• Advertising other Discord servers is not allowed due to past misuse.
• You may promote your NewSO avatar, lot, event, or service once per day.
• No duplicate promotions within a 24-hour period.
• Three warnings within a month results in a ban.

Game Rules & Economy

By registering on NewSO servers, you agree that:

• Any submitted data (e.g., lot descriptions, sign texts, object placements) may be stored or backed up.
• If the server shuts down, account emails and passwords will be wiped, but sign content may remain public.

Economy & Fair Play Rules

Multi-Accounting is Forbidden

• No creating or using multiple accounts.
• No running multiple Sims from different accounts at once.
• No sharing accounts or Sims.
• No pooling resources from different active accounts.
• Exception: briefly using another Sim (on the same account) for quick transfers (5 minutes max).

No Exploiting Bugs

All bugs must be reported privately to a mod or developer. Exploiting bugs for gain will result in penalties.

No Real-Money Transactions

Buying or selling Simoleons, items, services, or accounts for real money results in a permanent ban.

Restricted Sim Names

Use of names like "DADDI" or "MOMI" will result in a permanent ban.

NewSO Fair Use Summary

• NewSO is a fan project with no intent to replace The Sims.
• There is no monetization—everything is funded by the NewSO Team.
• The project operates under fair use and does not redistribute copyrighted assets.
• No personal data is stored; information is used only for account verification and is not retained.