Editing Maxis (section)

=== Early years under Electronic Arts (1997–2006) ===
In 1997, Maxis agreed to be [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by Electronic Arts by means of a [[stock swap]] which valued Maxis at $125 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/05/business/electronic-arts-will-buy-maxis-in-swap.html |title=Electronic Arts Will Buy Maxis in Swap |date=June 5, 1997 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128135657/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/05/business/electronic-arts-will-buy-maxis-in-swap.html |archive-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref> In a [[press release]], Maxis stated it agreed to the acquisition in order to take advantage of Electronic Arts' strong distribution channel.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Maxis Merges with EA|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=108|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=September 1997|page=22}}</ref> The transaction was complete on July 28, 1997, and triggered major changes at the company. Jeff Braun left, having received a sizeable amount of money during the purchase, and nearly half of the Maxis staff were laid off.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/28_ea/index.html |title=Maxis Now Under EA's Wing |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=July 28, 1997 |access-date=November 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990423194615/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/28_ea/index.html |archive-date=April 23, 1999}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Over 1998, Maxis was allowed to finish ''[[SimCity 3000]]'' on its own time; following this, Wright's efforts were thrown into ''[[The Sims (video game)|The Sims]]'', at the time seen as a major gamble for the company, as the dollhouse game was not seen as a match for the video game market's demographics. EA backed the title on the basis of the economic potential for expansion releases. In 2000, Maxis South (Austin, Texas) was closed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-to-close-down-maxis-south/1100-2467068/|title=EA To Close Down Maxis South|website=Gamespot.com|access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref> ''The Sims'' was released in February 2000 to widespread success, and would become one of Maxis' core focuses until a 2006 reorganisation shifted it away from their core team.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> ''[[SimCity 4]]'' was released in 2003, the first title in the series to implement true 3D, as well as the first where Wright was not directly involved with work. In 2004, Maxis' longtime studios in [[Walnut Creek, California|Walnut Creek]] were closed,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/electronic-arts-moves-maxis-6089213 |title=Electronic Arts moves Maxis |last=Feldman |first=Curt |website=GameSpot |date=February 11, 2004 |access-date=August 5, 2012}}</ref> and the staff moved to EA offices in [[Redwood City, California|Redwood City]] and [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]].