From October, you’ll be able to play The Sims 4 for free, although EA has something extra for those who already bought it.
While there will be a Sims 5 at some point, The Sims 4 has been doing well enough for EA to keep supporting it for eight years now.
After all that time, and multiple expansion packs, EA has decided to just make the game free-to-play across all platforms, starting from October 18.
Basically, what this means is that anyone can access the base game without paying a penny. However, all the expansions will remain as paid content.
If you already put down money for The Sims 4, you can download a Desert Luxe Kit, which adds new indoor and outdoor furniture ‘inspired by the natural landscape of the Southwestern desert’, at no extra cost.
This offer only lasts until October 17, the day before the game goes free-to-play, and all you need to do to redeem it is log into the game.
EA will also be giving away DLC bundles for EA Play members. If you’re subscribed to EA Play, you’ll receive the Get To Work Expansion Pack, which adds new jobs for your Sims to take, on October 18 as well.
EA Play Pro subscribers, however, will receive that and the Toddler Stuff Pack. This one adds new cosmetics and content specifically for toddlers.
These aren’t EA Play exclusives, by the way. Both packs are available for purchase separately.
The Sims 5 must still be a long way from coming out as EA has pledged itself to even more Sims 4 support.
‘We will continue to develop and release packs, kits and Sims Delivery Express drops into the foreseeable future,’ reads a blog post on the official website.
More concrete details about upcoming additions will be shared during a Behind The Sims Summit livestream. That’s planned for October 18 as well and will air across The Sims’ YouTube and Twitch channels at 10 PDT, which is 6pm BST for the UK.
We also wouldn’t be surprised if EA has plans to bring the game to more modern consoles, namely the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, since it’s currently locked to last gen consoles and PC.
So, what’s happening with The Sims 5? EA hasn’t really talked about it, although, in 2020, CEO Andrew Wilson seemed to imply that a new game would take some inspiration from 2002’s The Sims Online.
That was an effort to turn The Sims into an online multiplayer game, one that lasted six years until EA shut it down in 2008.
The Sims 4 is available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
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