While many players are waiting for the next opus, Electronic Arts has just announced that The Sims 4 will be free from October 18th. Small problem: it’s only the basic game, and not the fifty or so kits and extensions…
This is false good news for players who are fans of the cult license and others. Electronic Arts (EA) and Maxis, the game’s publisher and developer, announced than the game The Sims 4 was going to change its economic model to become “free-to-play” – a free game, but which then calls for microtransactions to be able to benefit from all the content – from next October 18 on all platforms: PC – via EA, Origin and Steam apps –, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. A nice initiative, but which has a problem…
The Sims 4: Free with Paid Add-ons
Released in September 2014 already, The Sims 4 is the latest version of the simulation game launched in 2000. Using multiple expansion packs and kits, the player creates characters, builds their house and evolves them in a city during the different stages of their life – adolescence , university, work, wedding, funeral, etc. – while ensuring their happiness – or not. It can even follow a family over several generations! Whether The Sims 4 had put an end to the principle of an open world at the center of Sims 3, he had however introduced the mechanics of emotions, which indicate the state of mind of the Sims taking into account his environment, his work, his interactions with others, the action he is doing, etc. But now, eight years later, the players are impatiently awaiting the Sims 5and EA’s announcement suggests that it won’t be for now…
Indeed, the announcement of the passage of Sims 4 free-to-play means the studio has found a way to further exploit the fourth installment. The free game will in theory attract new players, who were not interested enough to buy it, and then, once they got caught up in the game, make them go to the cash register. Because yes, only the base game is free. However, without the multitude of extensions – which are themselves well paid – it is rather empty, and we quickly went around in circles. You have to buy all 12 expansions – Seasons, Work, Dogs and Cats, etc. – at €40 each, the 12 game kits at €20, the 18 object kits at €10 and the 13 mini-kits at €5 to enjoy the entire game – we let you calculate the final price.. Far from closing this manna of gold, EA has already announced that it will continue to produce expansion packs and kits with new content. To those who have already paid for the game, the publisher will compensate them for the kit Luxury in the desertwhich will allow Sims to “relax in a modern oasis”. Ditto for those who subscribe to EA Play – which offers a catalog of games with The Sims 4 and the expansion At work – and to EA Play Pro – which additionally includes the kit Toddlers. More information will be given during the Behind The Sims Summit event on October 18 at 7 p.m. It will be streamed live on EA’s Youtube page.