It has been revealed that The Sims 4 base game will be going free-to-play soon, which is a big move for the popular life simulator. Although the game is around eight years old, it still enjoys a large player base that will likely grow much larger after the change goes into effect in October this year. Electronics Arts' new strategy could have massive implications for the franchise, especially for future titles such as The Sims 5 which has yet to be confirmed though fans eagerly anticipate it.
Making The Sims 4 free-to-play is a risky move, but there are gaming franchises that have made the jump with positive results. If EA chooses to stick to the free-to-play model going forward, it could mean that future The Sims titles will be more popular than ever. However, it could also wind up being costly for gamers if developers direct their resources toward the expansions, where they hope to make their profits. Gamers will find out more about what's in store for the series with the Behind the Sims Summit stream in October.
The Sims 4 Goes Free-to-Play
For years, EA has followed a pricing strategy for The Sims that has turned into a billion-dollar franchise, although it has left some gamers feeling like they're being fleeced. With each The Sims mainline entry, a base game is released, which contains everything gamers need to have a great The Sims experience. However, as the games are life simulators, players will likely spend dozens of hours in the games and the content will eventually get old.
Fortunately, there are plenty of expansion packs released to complement the base games. These come in the form of Stuff packs that come with clothing, furniture, and other useful assets, Game packs that add new locations and objectives, and Expansion packs that add major features such as seasons and universities.
Recently, EA announced that it will be radically changing the way gamers experience The Sims. Starting from October 18, 2022, gamers will be able to download The Sims 4 base game for free on all platforms. This is an impossible-to-ignore offer because despite being released in 2014, The Sims 4 remains one of the most immersive life simulation games available. Gamers will still have to pay for all the expansions, and EA has stated that it will continue to support The Sims 4. On October 18, it will reveal a bit of what it's working on during the Behind the Sims Summit stream.
Gamers who have been supporting EA and The Sims for a long-time have not been forgotten, and there are a few gifts lined up for them. EA Play subscribers will receive The Sims 4 Get to Work Expansion Pack free, while EA Play Pro subscribers will get the Get To Work Expansion Pack and the Toddler Stuff Pack. As a token of appreciation, all gamers who have purchased The Sims 4 base game will receive the Desert Luxe Kit free.
How the Change May Affect The Sims Franchise
EA's decision will likely have major impacts on The Sims franchise going forward. With no cost barrier present any longer, The Sims 4 will likely see a large influx of players, and these players could eventually become paying customers if they are enticed to purchase one of the numerous expansions. It is worth noting, however, that The Sims 4 is quite deep into its lifespan. As such, making the game free-to-play may be a strategy from EA to ensure the game remains profitable during its later years, as it appears that the company is banking on the many The Sims 4 expansions to serve as the main profit stream. Consequently, it would not be wise for The Sims fans to expect future titles to be free-to-play at launch. If The Sims 5 does go free-to-play, it may be, like The Sims 4, toward the end of its lifespan.
Nevertheless, there is the possibility of The Sims 5 being free-to-play, and The Sims would not be the first franchise to make the transition. Plenty of other developers have decided to go the same route, with varying levels of success. Rocket League, developed by Psyonix, originally had a price tag on it, but it went free-to-play in 2020. This proved to be a good move, as the game remains popular and the Rocket League Championship Series continues to thrive. Similarly, Fall Guys was wildly successful upon release in 2020, and when it went free-to-play in June 2022, it managed to attract 50 million more players. If EA pulls it off correctly, the free-to-play model could benefit both gamers and the company.
While the idea of The Sims 5 being free-to-play is enticing, it may come with some drawbacks. Most notably, it could result in a more skeletal base game, with more focus placed on the paid expansions. Paradoxically, a free-to-play The Sims 5 could wind up being more expensive for gamers, who will then have to purchase plenty of expansion packs to finally have the game they want. The free-to-play model could also be bad news for gamers who don't like The Sims games with long lifespans, as the constant release of expansions for any free-to-play titles is likely to extend its lifespan significantly.
With The Sims 4 as old as it is, going free-to-play is probably a wise move from EA, and it will ensure that the game continues to draw gamers. However, it remains to be seen whether the free-to-play model will be implemented into future titles, and whether they will be free at launch, or later on in their lifetimes. Although The Sims 5 being free-to-play could be a boon for the franchise, it is worth remembering that there are plenty of downsides that could crop up if it is not handled correctly.
The Sims 4 is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.