After a nine-year wait, The Sims 5 is officially on the way, and dozens of DLC packs will likely follow. Every Sims game is filled with post-launch DLC packs, but The Sims 4 took it to a whole new level. There is no end in sight for purchasable post-launch content, and that can get very daunting for players, so The Sims 5 should be the first title to adopt a subscription model like Fortnite to alleviate that barrier.
Fortnite has loads of microtransactions that players can purchase, but its Fortnite Crew program helps make things far more approachable. The membership gives players access to Fortnite's battle pass, monthly V-Bucks, and exclusive cosmetics at a cheaper price than the battle pass, making the shop more accessible to subscribers. It is a really nice addition for the free-to-play battle royale, and it is time for The Sims to replicate that model.
The Sims Needs Its Own Subscription Service
The Sims is known for its massive catalog of post-launch DLC, and The Sims 5 will undoubtedly continue the pattern. Every Sims game gets expansion packs throughout their tenure that add a slew of new features. The Sims saw seven packs during its lifetime, The Sims 2 had eight, The Sims 3 had 11, and The Sims 4 currently has 13. Players who want to enjoy everything that The Sims has to offer will need to fork over a hefty sum of money, but these expansion packs are only the start of The Sims' DLC offerings.
The Sims 2 introduced the concept of stuff packs as post-launch DLC, adding new items that players can build with that are often cheaper than expansion packs. The Sims 2 had nine different stuff packs, The Sims 3 featured nine, and The Sims 4 currently has 18. These packs make the complete Sims package cost even more money, butThe Sims 2 also introduced a store that featured more purchasable items.
The Sims franchise has had a lot of purchasable content over its lifetime, but The Sims 4 took the concept to an entirely different level. Not only does The Sims 4 have expansion and stuff packs, but Maxis also introduced the idea of Sims game packs and kits. Game packs are smaller versions of expansion packs that introduce unique mechanics like spas, vampires, magic, and even Star WarsGalaxy's Edge in one instance. Kits add a small collection of cosmetics for players to mess around with, being the cheapest form of Sims 4 DLC.
The Sims 4 currently has 13 expansion packs, 12 game packs, 18 stuff packs, and 10 kits. If players want to own everything The Sims 4 has to offer, they must spend over $1,000 - and there are even more DLCs on the horizon. While Maxis has not revealed much about The Sims 5 yet, it will likely continue this trend, and may even include new forms of DLC to purchase.
All of The Sims' DLC may be profitable for Maxis, but it can be daunting for players. Many key features are locked behind DLC packs, and if Maxis wants to continue churning out content for The Sims 5, it really needs to consider adopting a subscription model. Instead of trying to get its players to spend a lot of money on post-launch content, a simple monthly subscription could help support the game and give players access to everything The Sims 5 has to offer on a wider scale.
The Sims 5 is currently in development