Key Takeaways
-
The Sims 5
isn’t in the works, according to EA. - EA’s profitable DLC model will keep
The Sims 4
afloat for the foreseeable future. - Project Rene offers a new multiplayer experience, with no release date confirmed yet.
Kate Gorman, who is EA’s vice president and general manager of The Sims franchise, recently had an interview with Variety, and a lot was revealed about the future of The Sims. Surprisingly, she claims that there are no plans for The Sims 5, and the studio is going to continue supplying The Sims 4 with paid expansions and DLCs. Though The Sims 5 is not in development, Maxis is busy with Project Rene, a mysterious game that will feature multiplayer.
According to Gorman, this decision was made to prevent players from having to start all over again after investing so much in The Sims 4. Gorman also let fans know that they’ll receive more information on Project Rene soon. Though some players may wish for The Sims 5, there are a few reasons to believe that EA has made the right choice.
EA Has Found a Sales Model for The Sims That Works
When The Sims 4 launched in 2013, the base game was a paid project, and Maxis would regularly supply the game with DLC. It soon became apparent how lucrative DLC was, and in 2022, the game went free-to-play, though the DLC still comes with a price tag. There have been dozens of DLCs released, including the recently launched Lovestruck DLC which has been available since July.
This new model has kept the 2013 game alive and profitable. So long as there is a steady stream of new DLC, EA can always make more money from The Sims 4‘s massive install base. The good news is that EA plans on supporting The Sims 4 for a long time, and it will still be “continuing to support TS4 more than ever. Still continue to deliver expansion packs and updates and fixes.”
The Sims 4 Players Get to Keep Their Years of Progress
This is good news for players who have invested heavily in The Sims 4. All the expansions purchased won’t go to waste, as The Sims 4 will continue to be supported for a long time, saving players the cost of building up a DLC collection from scratch with The Sims 5. It also allows players to save all their gameplay and generations of families that they’ve bonded with.
As part of Maxis’ continued support of The Sims 4, Gorman revealed that The Sims will begin selling “Creator Kits” based on user-generated content made by players. Modding is a huge part of The Sims for a lot of players, and this serves as confirmation that “those creators will be compensated for their work being sold as digital products by EA.”
Project Rene’s Coming For Players Who Want Something New
The announcement will have some players happy, but others may be disappointed that a new numbered The Sims game isn’t coming anytime soon. Gorman discussed Project Rene, a new game that is in development. It will be available on PC and mobile, and it will feature a multiplayer mode. According to Gorman, developers have learned a lot with The Sims Online and are looking to create an experience that features a world with real players and NPCs.
For players looking for something new from The Sims franchise, Project Rene is the game to look out for. It is still in the early stages of development, and a release window hasn’t been revealed yet, so it’s best not to expect it to launch anytime soon.
The Sims franchise has a busy future ahead, even though it won’t feature The Sims 5. In addition to Project Rene, The Sims movie is in the works, and it is being produced at Amazon MGM Studios by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap. The Sims 4 can also look forward to the Life & Death expansion pack launching in October.
