Developers have confirmed that The Sims 5 is in the works, and it is being developed under the codename 'Project Rene.' Naturally, there are already high hopes and expectations regarding what the new entry in the popular life simulation franchise will bring. The best thing The Sims 5 can do is to learn from The Sims 4 which was a successful title that made a few missteps along the way. One of the biggest issues could be seen with the life stages.
When The Sims 4 launched, not all life stages were available, and gamers were drip-fed them over years, with some features locked behind paid DLC. Many of these problems have been solved with The Sims 4: Growing Together expansion pack, though it would have been better if life stages were properly handled from the beginning. Fortunately, The Sims 5 has the opportunity to get things correct right out the gate if it learns from its predecessors.
The Sims 4 and the Missing Life Stages
When The Sims 4 launched in 2014, it was a monumental step forward for the franchise. However, there were some features present in prior games that didn't make it into the new game, including the Create-a-Style customization tool. Many gamers were also upset that there were missing life stages at the game's launch. This was notable because it reduced how much players engage in the experience of navigating a Sim's life from cradle to grave.
Since its launch, there have been several updates that have expanded the life stages available. In 2017, an update added the toddler life stage, and in 2023, gamers got the infant life stage. To get the most out of all life stages, players need The Sims 4: Growing Together expansion. This gives unique quirks to toddlers and infants, new social events, and even a midlife crisis. Of course, there are also new items to purchase to accommodate all the life stages, including new clothing for infants.
The Sims 5 Should Avoid Making Gamers Wait For All the Life Stages
Although all the updates to The Sims 4 are greatly appreciated, especially the latest Growing Together expansion, it comes very late into the game's lifespan. This means that for many years, gamers missed out on certain interactions and key moments in a Sim's life. Important life milestones like becoming a toddler or overcoming a midlife crisis were unavailable in The Sims 4, making the experience a little less immersive. The fact that some of the updates are locked behind a paid expansion is also a tad disappointing.
With The Sims 5, players should have access to all life stages in the Create-a-Sim mode, giving gamers the chance to build precisely the family they are imagining. There should also be a wide range of interactions available for all the life stages to set them apart from each other, whether it be diaper-changing for babies or social anxiety for teens. With all these features available at launch, the next game will immediately feel like a step above its predecessor which underwent a lot of growing pains before it got all its life stages handled correctly.
Despite being many years old, The Sims 4 continues to be supported by developers. This ensures that fans stay hooked to the franchise until the launch of The Sims 5. If EA wishes for the next entry to be just as successful as the prior, it should be careful to not tread old ground and instead make drastic improvements. The inclusion of all the life stages at launch is one of the best ways to do this.
The Sims 4 is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
