The Sims 4

Last updated

The Sims 4
Sims4 Rebrand.png
Cover art since 2019
Developer(s) Maxis [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) Electronic Arts
Director(s)
  • Michael Duke
  • Berjes Enriquez
  • Jim Rogers
  • Robert Vernick
Producer(s)
  • Kevin Gibson
  • Grant Rodiek
  • Ryan Vaughan
Designer(s)
  • Eric Holmberg-Weidler
  • Matt Yang
Artist(s)
  • Magnus Hollmo
  • Samantha Miceli
  • Steven Ross
Writer(s) Danielle von Mayrhauser
Composer(s) Ilan Eshkeri
Series The Sims
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows
  • NA: September 2, 2014
  • EU/AU: September 4, 2014
  • UK: September 5, 2014
OS X
  • WW: February 17, 2015
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • WW: November 17, 2017
Genre(s) Social simulation
Mode(s) Single-player

The Sims 4 is a free-to-play social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the fourth major title in The Sims series, following The Sims 3 (2009). The game was released in North America on September 2, 2014, for Windows, an OS X version was released in February 2015, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in November 2017. The game was moved to a free-to-play model on October 18, 2022, monetized by the purchase of various paid downloadable content packs that have been developed since its release.

Contents

Like previous titles in the series, The Sims 4 allows players to create and dress characters called "Sims", build and furnish houses for them, and simulate their everyday lives. The game introduces a newly developed custom game engine, with improved character creation and housebuilding tools, as well as deeper in-game simulation with the new emotion and personality systems for Sims.

Development of The Sims 4 began as an online multiplayer title, but plans were shifted to a single-player experience following the negative launch reception of Maxis' SimCity in 2013. In the months leading up to the game's release, Maxis revealed that several features present in prior The Sims main titles would be omitted at launch, citing insufficient development time and technical complexity; this was received negatively by players. The Sims 4 received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release, who praised the game's visual design, improved AI simulation for Sims, and the simplified building tools, but criticized the lack of content compared to prior The Sims titles, frequent loading screens, and missing features.

The Sims 4 has been commercially successful, topping the all-format video game chart in 2014, and has received over 70 million players worldwide as of 2023, making it the most popular game in the franchise. Development of the game has been supported with numerous paid downloadable content packs, namely fifteen expansion packs, twelve game packs, and several stuff packs and kits. The most recent expansion pack, The Sims 4: For Rent , was released on December 7, 2023. Free content updates introducing and expanding major features have also been released, such as swimming pools, more character customization options, more building tools, and gameplay scenarios. A new mainline The Sims title, under the working title "Project Rene", is currently in development.

Gameplay

The Sims 4 is a social simulation game, similar to preceding titles in the series. There is no primary objective or goal to achieve, and instead of fulfilling objectives, the player is encouraged to make choices and engage fully in an interactive environment. [2] [3] The focus of the game is on the simulated lives of virtual people called "Sims", and the player is responsible for directing their actions, attending to their "Needs", and helping them attain their desires. [2] Although it is not mandatory, objective-based gameplay is available if the player desires, with each Sim having lifelong aspirations, and "wants and fears" personal goals that are generated based on current gameplay. [2] [4]

Simoleons (§) are the unit of currency used in the game, and Sims communicate in a fictional language called Simlish. [5] Sims have six needs: hunger, bladder, hygiene, social, fun, and energy. These needs are drained as the Sim progresses through an in-game day, and are refilled by various household items and furniture. Sims primarily make money by getting a job, or selling crafted items such as paintings and garden produce, [2] and Sims need to develop skills for jobs and crafting items; for example, Sims in the Culinary career track need to be proficient in the Cooking skill. The game includes a comprehensive list of cheats, such as infinite money and hidden gameplay options. [2] [6] Paid downloadable content (DLC) packs expand the number of features, objects, worlds, and gameplay options available to play with. [7]

The OS X and Windows versions of The Sims 4 include extensive modding support, as in previous mainline The Sims games. [8] [9] [10] There are two types of player-developed mod content: script mods and custom content. Script mods typically modify gameplay behavior or add gameplay mechanics, [11] while custom content encompasses cosmetic items including custom hairstyles, makeup, clothing, and furniture. [8] [12]

Create-a-Sim

In The Sims 4's Create-a-Sim mode, Sim facial and bodily features are adjusted by directly selecting and manipulating the respective area. Sims4CAS.png
In The Sims 4's Create-a-Sim mode, Sim facial and bodily features are adjusted by directly selecting and manipulating the respective area.

Create-a-Sim is the main interface for creating a Sim in The Sims 4, where individual Sims and families can be created and placed in the game world. Sim facial and bodily features are adjusted by directly selecting and manipulating the respective area; selections of pre-made facial features are also available. [13] Sims have eight life stages: newborn, infant, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder. All life stages can be created in Create-a-Sim, with the exception of the baby life stage. Toddlers were absent from the original game release but were added via an update in 2017. [14] The newborn and infant life stages were added to the game via a March 2023 update, replacing the baby life stage. [15] [16]

Each Sim has three personality traits, and an aspiration containing its own special trait. [3] Traits determine the personality of a Sim, and significantly affect a Sim's behavior and emotions. Aspirations are lifelong goals for Sims, each containing a list of tasks to be fulfilled in gameplay; Sims get a reward trait when completing an aspiration, which give them a boost when performing actions relevant to the aspiration. When creating a new Sim, a personality quiz option automatically generates a personality and aspiration for the Sim. [2] The "Play with Genetics" function allows players to create siblings, children, and parents of household Sims, inheriting facial features, and physical traits such as skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors from the selected household Sims. Added in a 2021 update, "likes and dislikes" determine aesthetics and activities preferred by each Sim, and can be assigned in Create-a-Sim or developed in gameplay. [17]

Occult Sims are introduced in various expansion packs and game packs. These occults include aliens, vampires, mermaids, spellcasters, and werewolves; some occults can be directly created in Create-a-Sim. [18] Cat and dog pets are introduced via the Cats & Dogs expansion pack, and can be created in the "Create-a-Pet" mode within Create-a-Sim, or adopted during gameplay. [19] Gender options for Sims were expanded in a 2016 update, allowing for greater freedom of gender expression. With this update, hairstyles and outfits can be worn by any Sim of any gender, and pregnancy is now possible regardless of gender. [20] [21] The diversity of skin tones in the game was greatly expanded in a 2020 update, following strong player demand; [22] [23] [24] skin tones were divided into warm, neutral, and cold tones, and the ability to adjust the saturation and opacity of skin tones and makeup colors was introduced. [25] [26]

Preferred pronoun options for Sims were added in a 2022 update, developed in collaboration with the It Gets Better Project and GLAAD; Sims can have preset pronouns, such as he/him, she/her, or they/them, or players can customize their own set of pronouns for their Sims. [27] Another 2022 update added the ability to select a Sim's sexuality, as well as their means of expressing attraction, either romantically or sexually. [28] The update additionally enables a Sim to have flexible sexuality, with changes possible later as the character progresses during gameplay. [28]

Build mode

Build mode in The Sims 4 includes tools for resizing, moving, and duplicating entire rooms and buildings. Sims4 Room BuildMode.png
Build mode in The Sims 4 includes tools for resizing, moving, and duplicating entire rooms and buildings.

Build mode is the main interface for constructing and furnishing houses and lots in The Sims 4. Buy mode, the interface for purchasing house furnishings in previous games, is merged into Build mode. [29] In Build mode, players purchase furniture and appliances for Sims such as televisions, showers, beds, and fridges, with each of them having a set function, ranging from fulfilling a need or raising a skill or simply being decorative. Some locked or hidden items may be unlocked through the progression of career levels or cheats. [30] Players can also construct buildings and design interior layouts from scratch, then save their custom buildings and lots into the in-game library. [3] Entire rooms and buildings can be resized, moved, and duplicated, along with all objects placed within the room. [31] Alternatively, selections of pre-made furnished rooms and buildings are available. [2] Players can build on and customize every lot on the world map, and can only build within the boundaries of each lot. Bodies of water can be constructed, such as decorative fountains, swimming pools, [32] and ponds. [33]

Interior construction options include doors, archways, half-walls, wall coverings, and floors. When constructing a building, buildings can have up to four floors, walls of a building floor can have three different heights, buildings foundations with adjustable heights can be added, and windows can be moved up or down vertically along a wall. Additional construction options such as basements, L- and U-shaped stairs, [34] ladders, [35] and floor platforms were added in later updates. [36]

Worlds

Worlds included in The Sims 4's DLC packs frequently borrow inspirations from real-life locations; areas in rural England--such as Cotswolds (pictured)--were cited as inspirations for the Henford-on-Bagley world in Cottage Living. Bibury Cottages in the Cotswolds - June 2007.jpg
Worlds included in The Sims 4's DLC packs frequently borrow inspirations from real-life locations; areas in rural England—such as Cotswolds (pictured)—were cited as inspirations for the Henford-on-Bagley world in Cottage Living .

A world is a collection of several neighborhoods, each containing several residential or community lots available for players to customize and build upon. Sims can visit any lot located in any world, regardless of which world they reside in, and Sims from other households can be seen as non-player characters roaming within worlds. Lots can be visited directly by Sims from the map view, with the exception of secret lots, which can only be accessed through interacting with special gameplay objects, or as work locations for some careers. [37]

Unlike The Sims 3, The Sims 4 does not support open worlds, and travelling between lots and worlds triggers a loading screen; however, neighborhoods allow some open world functionality by allowing Sims to interact with gameplay objects placed within the neighborhood's boundaries. The Sims 4 includes three worlds in its base game: Willow Creek and Oasis Springs contain pre-made houses, community lots, and Sim families, while Newcrest is a sandbox world only containing blank lots free for players to build upon. [2] Additional worlds are included in the game's expansion packs and "game packs", with the added world usually being a core feature of the pack. These worlds frequently borrow inspirations from real-life locations; for example, Island Living introduces a tropical world named Sulani, Jungle Adventure introduces a Latin American–inspired vacation world named Selvadorada, Snowy Escape introduces a mountainous Japan-inspired world named Mt. Komorebi, and Cottage Living includes a rural England-inspired world named Henford-on-Bagley. [7] [38]

New gameplay features

The Gallery is an online content exchange that allows players to upload, share, and download custom-made Sims, Sim households, rooms, and buildings; [2] it is accessible directly in-game, or online via The Sims 4 website. The Gallery was later made available to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game in 2020. [39]

Emotion is a new gameplay mechanic, building upon the mood system of Sims in previous titles; emotions can be affected by in-game actions, events, and social interactions with other Sims. [40] Positive and negative moodlets (a type of buff) influence the current emotion of a Sim, and can directly impact Sim actions and behavior, such as increasing the efficiency of gaining skill points. [2] [41] There are several types and intensities of emotions, such as happy, sad, and angry; some high-intensity emotional stages introduce a probability of emotional death. [42] The multitasking system is a new gameplay mechanic allowing Sims to perform multiple actions at a single time, such as having a conversation with other Sims while cooking. [41]

Development

Development of The Sims 4 began as an online multiplayer title, under the working title of "Olympus". [43] Maxis intended to incorporate online multiplayer gameplay elements, as part of publisher Electronic Arts' (EA) plan to release more online multiplayer titles. EA labels president Frank Gibeau stated in 2012, "I have not green-lit one game to be developed as a single player experience. Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365." [44] These plans were ultimately changed following the negative launch reception of Maxis' SimCity in March 2013, which was plagued with widespread technical and gameplay problems relating to the game's mandatory network connectivity. [45] [46] As a result, "Olympus" was reworked to a single-player experience and released as The Sims 4. [43] [47] The release version of the game only requires an internet connection during the initial installation process for game activation with an Origin account. [48] Additionally, development of The Sims 4 was affected by layoffs at EA Salt Lake in January 2014, which was assisting in development of the game; remaining EA Salt Lake employees working on the game were transferred to Maxis' studio in Redwood Shores, California. [49] [50]

Ilan Eshkeri's music compositions for the game were designed to highlight the new Sim emotion system during gameplay. Ilan Wikipedia Shot (cropped).png
Ilan Eshkeri's music compositions for the game were designed to highlight the new Sim emotion system during gameplay.

The Sims 4 uses a newly developed proprietary game engine, marketed as "SmartSim". [51] In conjunction with this engine, Maxis focused on developing the new Sim emotion system for The Sims 4, as well as more expressive and complex Sim animations, describing Sim behavior in previous The Sims titles as "robotic" in comparison. [52] Development of walking animations and facial expressions centered around better illustrating the emotions of Sims in gameplay, as well as making social interactions between Sims appear more natural and lifelike. [41]

British neoclassical composer Ilan Eshkeri composed the game's orchestral soundtrack. [52] This included over 140 brief sound effects to accompany various "key emotional moments" for Sims, such as encountering a fight, a first kiss, a wedding, or a toilet breaking. Compared to previous The Sims titles, The Sims 4's soundtrack was designed to emphasize the impact of Sim emotions during these gameplay events. [52] Eshkeri cited difficulty in composing music for the game due to its sandbox nature, contrasting it to his previous works with film scores. All music was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London, and performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra. [52]

Omitted features

In the months leading up to the game's release in September 2014, Maxis revealed that several gameplay features present in previous The Sims titles, such as swimming pools and the toddler Sim life stage, and family trees would not be included in The Sims 4. [53] [54] Some gameplay features introduced in The Sims 3, such as open worlds and the "Create-a-Style" color customization feature, were also excluded from the game. [55] These announcements sparked criticism among players, who expressed dismay at the exclusion of core The Sims gameplay elements, particularly swimming pools and toddler Sims, with fans signing a petition created on the Change.org website in response. Some speculated that the aforementioned features were intentionally left out to be re-introduced in future paid DLC. [53] [56] [57]

Maxis issued a statement responding to player criticism, specifying that they had to allocate development resources to the newly developed game engine, technologies, AI simulation system, as well as the revamped Create-a-Sim and Build modes, as reason for the omitted features. [56] [57] They contended that "it was not possible for us to include every single feature and piece of content we added to The Sims 3 over the last five years", but clarified excluded features could be re-introduced in the future via game updates or DLC. [53] [58]

Release and marketing

On May 6, 2013, Maxis confirmed that The Sims 4 was in development, and would be scheduled for release in 2014. [59] The Sims 4 was unveiled via gameplay demos and release trailers in August 2013 at Gamescom. [60] Several trailers were released on YouTube in May 2014; a Create-a-Sim trailer revealed the variety of Sim customization options; [61] a Build mode trailer showcased the new interface and building tools. [62] [63] Game footage was shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on June 9, 2014, and the game's North American release date of September 2, 2014, was announced, to be released on Windows. [63] [64] A free playable demo of the Create-a-Sim feature was made available for download on August 12, 2014. [61] [65]

Released alongside the standard edition, the digital-only Deluxe edition of the game includes bonus gameplay objects and clothing, and a digital copy of the game soundtrack; the Premium edition additionally includes a hardcover book containing game tips and artwork. [66] An OS X version was released on February 17, 2015. [67] PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released on November 17, 2017, co-developed with Blind Squirrel Games; in contrast to previous The Sims entries on consoles, the console versions of The Sims 4 are direct ports of the OS X and Windows versions and are compatible with the same DLC. [68]

Collaborative promotions

A Sims-themed gaming headset, mouse, and "Plumbob" USB light designed by SteelSeries were released alongside the game's launch in 2014, with the peripherals having built-in LED lights that change according to the playable Sim's mood. [69] Maxis announced a collaboration in 2019 with Italian luxury fashion house Moschino; the collaboration includes a collection of pixel art clothing inspired by the franchise, and a Moschino-themed stuff pack titled Moschino Stuff. [70] A reality competition TV series, The Sims Spark'd , premiered on TBS from July 17, 2020, to August 7, 2020, featuring twelve contestants from popular YouTube channels in the Sims fan community; contestants were tasked with gameplay challenges within The Sims 4, and to create characters and stories following the challenge's themes and limitations. [71]

The "Sims Sessions" in-game music festival was a limited-time event hosted from June 29, 2021, to July 7, 2021, and was accessible within a special area in the game world. [72] [73] Singers Bebe Rexha, Glass Animals frontman Dave Bayley, and Joy Oladokun recorded Simlish versions of their songs "Sabotage", "Heat Waves", and "Breathe Again", respectively, for their in-game performances during the event. [72] [73]

Reception

The Sims 4 received "mixed or average reviews" reviews from critics upon its release, according to review aggregator site Metacritic. [74] Reviewers frequently criticized The Sims 4's lack of features and missing content compared to previous titles, particularly The Sims 3 's "Create-a-Style" color customization tool, open worlds, and gameplay elements from its expansion packs; [55] [78] reviewers also noted encountering frequent loading screens and some glitches. [83] [84] The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game, released in 2017, received additional criticism for its controller-based game controls, [75] [76] as well as various bugs, glitches, and performance issues. [85] [86]

Jim Sterling of The Escapist described the gameplay as "boring", and described The Sims 4 as "shrunken and sterile". [87] Kallie Plagge of IGN was disappointed by the lack of "cool objects" in place of missing content, and noted a lack of furnishing options in Build mode compared to The Sims 3. [80] Nick Tan of GameRevolution describes the game as a "case study for loss aversion", noting frustration among Sims fans due to the missing features and content, concluding that the game is "woefully incomplete". [77] Reviewers speculated that the notable lack of content was in lieu of features for potential future paid DLC packs, and is an intentional financial decision by EA. [80] [82] [87] Lee Cooper of Hardcore Gamer concluded that the game is "a glorified freemium app with multiple expansions on the horizon that should have been part of the core-game." [79]

On the positive end, reviewers praised the game's improved graphical quality, intuitive Build mode and Create-a-Sim tools, the Sim emotion and multitasking systems in gameplay, and the Gallery feature. [78] [83] [88] Plagge of IGN commended that she did not need to micro-manage Sims' interactions with the multitasking system. [80] Cooper of Hardcore Gamer described the new Create-a-Sim as a "veritable hodgepodge of options", despite the omission of Create-a-Style. [79] VanOrd of GameSpot praised the visual and audio design, and expressed the combination of the emotion and multitasking systems as a "sheer delight". [78] Tan of GameRevolution lauded the "unbelievable" animation quality, intuitive game interface, and better performance and stability compared to previous The Sims titles. [77] Chris Thursten of PC Gamer highlighted the ability to download lookalike Sims of real-life celebrities via the Gallery, and noted that the emotion system "changes the feel and flow of the game". [82] Alexander Sliwinski from Joystiq commended the new search function in Build mode. [81]

Sales

The Sims 4 has received over 70 million players worldwide across all platforms as of April 2023 according to EA, with the game gaining 16 million players since becoming free-to-play in October 2022. [89] The publisher also reported that the game has generated over $1 billion of total revenue as of 2019, including DLC pack sales. [90] At its release in 2014, The Sims 4 was the first PC game to top the all-format video game charts since Guild Wars 2 (2012). [91] In 2018, EA reported that all expansion packs combined had sold over 30 million units. [92]

Post-release

In response to players' complaints about missing features, Maxis pledged to introduce additional content and features to The Sims 4 via free updates. [93] This includes features from past The Sims main titles that were excluded at launch such as swimming pools, [93] genealogy, toddler Sim life stage, [94] and basements. Other major features added in updates include the Newcrest sandbox world, [95] gender customization in Create-a-Sim, [21] gameplay scenarios, [96] terrain manipulation tools, [97] "Neighbourhood Stories" gameplay storytelling system, [98] a "wants and fears" goal system, [4] and an infant Sim life stage. [99] EA affirmed their commitment to long-term support of the game in 2021, citing a "shift across the entire games industry to support and nurture our communities long-term". [100] While some missing features were added in free updates, it was noted by some reviewers that paid DLC in packs such as Parenthood and Growing Together were required for these features to be fully developed. [101] [102]

EA announced in September 2022 that The Sims 4 base game would become free-to-play on all platforms, starting from October 18, 2022. [103] [104] This makes The Sims 4 the fourth free-to-play entry in the series, following The Sims Social , The Sims FreePlay , and The Sims Mobile . [104] For a limited time, existing players who had previously purchased the game were entitled to a free copy of the Desert Luxe Kit, a DLC pack containing a small variety of furniture and Build mode items. [103]

In an October 2022 livestream, Maxis announced a partnership with mod distribution website CurseForge to provide an official distribution platform for The Sims 4 mods and custom content. [105] [106] Maxis also revealed in the livestream that a sequel to The Sims 4 is in development, under the working title of "Project Rene", and showed footage of potential game functions, such as co-op multiplayer in Build mode and cross-compatibility with desktop and mobile platforms. [107] [108]

Downloadable content packs

Paid downloadable content (DLC) packs for The Sims 4 have been released since 2015; there are four categories of DLC packs: "expansion packs", "game packs", "stuff packs", and "kits". [2] [109] Expansion packs are the largest content packs, primarily focusing on major new features relevant to a theme. Game packs are similar to expansion packs, but include a smaller amount of content. Stuff packs are minor DLC packs only containing a small number of furniture and clothing items. Kits are the smallest DLC packs, with each kit exclusively focusing on either furniture or clothing items. [110] According to Metacritic, reviews for expansion packs and game packs have received "generally favorable" to "mixed or average" reception. [111]

Issues

Star Wars: Journey to Batuu , the ninth game pack for The Sims 4, was announced on August 27, 2020. The pack announcement was received negatively by players, who felt it de-prioritized community-requested features and content for the game, with some speculating it was a contractual obligation given EA's ownership of the Star Wars video game franchise. [127] [128] Prior to the pack's announcement, an independent poll by Digital Spy asked players what themes they would like to see in future The Sims 4 content packs; Star Wars came in last out of twenty-one possible choices. [129] Maxis issued a statement in response to the negative player reception, revealing development updates on selected community-requested features and upcoming content, and cited issues during development with "foundational technology" when developing these features. [127]

My Wedding Stories , the eleventh game pack for The Sims 4, was announced on February 8, 2022. The day after the pack announcement, Maxis stated that they would not release the pack in Russia, citing video game laws prohibiting content promoting homosexuality as a societal norm. [130] [131] After strong backlash and feedback from Russian players, Maxis reversed their decision and released the pack in Russia, unaltered and unchanged, citing that they "reassessed their options". [132] [133] Since March 2022, Electronic Arts has suspended all video game sales in Russia due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. [134]

After My Wedding Stories's release on February 23, 2022, it received criticism from players and reviewers for its numerous bugs and glitches, which render the game's headline wedding event feature unplayable. [135] [136] [137] This included Sims not walking up and down the aisle correctly, guests showing up in improper wedding attire, and guests performing inappropriate activities during the wedding ceremonies. [135] [137] The pack received an aggregate critic score of 62% on Metacritic, the lowest for a The Sims 4 game pack to date. [138] Maxis later released an update to address some of these glitches on March 31, 2022. [139] [140]

Notes

  1. Blind Squirrel Games co-developed the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxis</span> American video game developer

Maxis is an American video game developer and a division of Electronic Arts (EA). The studio was founded in 1987 by Will Wright and Jeff Braun, and acquired by Electronic Arts in 1997. Maxis is best known for its simulation games, including The Sims, Spore and SimCity.

<i>The Sims</i> (video game) 2000 video game

The Sims is a social simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts in 2000. The game allows players to create and control virtual people, called "Sims", and manage their daily lives in a suburban setting. The game features an open-ended gameplay, where players can choose their own goals and objectives, and customize their Sims' appearance, personality, skills, relationships, and environment. A series of expansion packs were also released that add new content and features to the game, such as new careers, items, locations, and scenarios.

<i>SimCity 4</i> 2003 video game

SimCity 4 is a city-building simulation computer game developed by Maxis, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts. The game was released in January 2003 for Microsoft Windows and in June 2003 for Mac OS X. It is the fourth major installment in the SimCity series. SimCity 4 has a single expansion pack called Rush Hour which adds features to the game. SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition contained the original game and Rush Hour combined as a single product.

<i>The Sims 2</i> 2004 video game

The Sims 2 is a 2004 strategic life simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the second major title in The Sims series, and is the sequel to The Sims. The game was released for Microsoft Windows on September 14, 2004, and a port for MacOS by Aspyr was released on June 17, 2005. Eight expansion packs and nine "stuff packs" were subsequently released between 2005 and 2008. In addition, versions of The Sims 2 were released on various video game consoles, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo DS, and GameCube, and mobile platforms, including the Nokia Ovi Store. The three handheld versions of the game are completely different among themselves, unlike the home console versions of the game, which are virtually identical to each other. All three handheld versions take on more of a linear storyline. A sequel, The Sims 3, was released in June 2009

<i>The Sims 3</i> 2009 video game

The Sims 3 is a 2009 life simulation video game developed by the Redwood Shores studio of Maxis, and published by Electronic Arts. Part of The Sims series, it is the sequel to The Sims 2. It was released on June 2, 2009, for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, and smartphone versions. Console versions were released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS in October 2010 and a month later for Wii. The Windows Phone version was released on October 15, 2010. A Nintendo 3DS version, released on March 27, 2011, was one of the platform's launch titles.

<i>The Sims 2: Bon Voyage</i> Expansion pack for The Sims 2

The Sims 2: Bon Voyage is an expansion pack for the 2004 life simulation video game The Sims 2, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The sixth expansion pack for the game, it was released 4 September 2007. Bon Voyage adds the ability to book in-game holiday travel to one of three pre-defined destinations, broadly themed around the Far East, Polynesia, and a generic mountainous region respectively. Each destination has its own unique culture, activities, and attractions. Other features of Bon Voyage include its expansion of the in-game inventory function, a number of new items and interactions, and its soundtrack, featuring Bob Marley's son Damian Marley.

<i>SimCity Societies</i> 2007 video game

SimCity Societies is a city-building simulation video game developed by Tilted Mill Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, and is part of the SimCity series. The gameplay is significantly different from previous SimCity titles, with a greater focus on social development. SimCity Societies was released in 2007, and received mixed reviews, with praise for the game's improved accessibility and visuals, but criticism for being oversimplified and having poor performance.

<i>SimCity</i> (2013 video game) 2013 video game

SimCity is a city-building and urban planning simulation massively multiplayer online game developed by Maxis Emeryville and published by Electronic Arts. Released for Microsoft Windows in early March 2013, it is a reboot of the SimCity series, and is the first major installment since the release of SimCity 4 a decade before. A macOS version was released on August 29, 2013.

<i>The Sims</i> Series of video games

The Sims is a series of life simulation video games developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The franchise has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide, and is one of the best-selling video game series of all time. It is also part of the larger Sim series, started by SimCity in 1989.

<i>Spore</i> (2008 video game) 2008 video game

Spore is a 2008 life simulation real-time strategy god game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Designed by Will Wright, it covers many genres including action, real-time strategy, and role-playing games. Spore allows a player to control the development of a species from its beginnings as a microscopic organism, through development as an intelligent and social creature, to interstellar exploration as a spacefaring culture. It has drawn wide attention for its massive scope, and its use of open-ended gameplay and procedural generation. Throughout each stage, players are able to use various creators to produce content for their games. These are then automatically uploaded to the online Sporepedia and are accessible by other players for download.

<i>Star Wars Battlefront</i> (2015 video game) 2015 video game

Star Wars Battlefront is an action shooter video game developed by DICE, with additional work from Criterion Games, and published by Electronic Arts in November 2015. The game, based on the Star Wars film franchise, is the third major release in the Star Wars: Battlefront sub-series, but is considered a reboot to the previous games, instead of a sequel, to reflect the new Star Wars canon that Lucasfilm established after being acquired by The Walt Disney Company.

<i>Battlefield 4</i> 2013 video game

Battlefield 4 is a 2013 first-person shooter video game developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in October and November for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and is the sequel to 2011's Battlefield 3, taking place six years later during the fictional "War of 2020".

<i>Euro Truck Simulator 2</i> 2012 vehicle simulation video game by SCS Software

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a truck simulator game developed and published by SCS Software for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS and was initially released as open development on 18 October 2012. The game is a direct sequel to the 2008 game Euro Truck Simulator and it is the fourth video game in the Truck Simulator series.

<i>Payday 2</i> 2013 video game

Payday 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter video game developed by Overkill Software and published by 505 Games. The game is a sequel to 2011's Payday: The Heist. It was released in August 2013 for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A remastered version of the game, subtitled Crimewave Edition, was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2015 and for the Nintendo Switch in February 2018.

<i>Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare</i> 2014 third-person shooter video game

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is a 2014 multiplayer third-person shooter and tower defense video game developed by PopCap Games and published by Electronic Arts. The third game in the Plants vs. Zombies franchise, the basic premise revolves around plants defending humankind from a zombie invasion. In the game, players assume control of either the Plants or the Zombies, as they fight in various cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes. Upon completing matches and finishing objectives, players earn coins to acquire stickers that unlock customization items and character variants.

<i>Cities: Skylines</i> 2015 city-building video game

Cities: Skylines is a 2015 city-building game developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive. The game is a single-player open-ended city-building simulation. Players engage in urban planning by controlling zoning, road placement, taxation, public services, and public transportation of an area. They also work to manage various elements of the city, including its budget, health, employment, traffic, and pollution levels. It is also possible to maintain a city in a sandbox mode, which provides more creative freedom for the player.

Super Mega Baseball is a baseball video game series developed by the independent studio Metalhead Software in Victoria, BC, Canada and published by EA Sports.

Twelve downloadable content "game packs" have been released for the 2014 life simulation video game The Sims 4, the fourth major title in The Sims series. All game packs are developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, for the Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox platforms. Game packs are intended to be smaller than full expansion packs. The first game pack, Outdoor Retreat, was released on January 13, 2015. The most recent game pack, Werewolves, was released on June 16, 2022.

Fifteen expansion packs have been released for the 2014 life simulation video game The Sims 4, the fourth major title in The Sims series. All expansion packs are developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, for the Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms. Expansion packs tend to focus on major new features, with many objects, clothes, styles, worlds and life states are geared towards the pack's major theme. The first expansion pack, Get to Work, was released on March 31, 2015. The most recent expansion pack, For Rent, was released on December 7, 2023.

Eleven expansion packs were released for the 2009 life simulation video game The Sims 3, the third major title in The Sims series. Of the eleven expansion packs, seven were developed by Maxis Redwood Shores, while the other four were developed by EA Salt Lake. All expansion packs were published by Electronic Arts. Expansion packs tend to focus on major new features, with the addition of many new objects, worlds, and game features geared towards the pack's major theme. The first expansion pack, World Adventures, was released on November 18, 2009. The last expansion pack, Into the Future, was released on October 22, 2013.

References

  1. "EA Announces The Sims 4 is Coming to Consoles on November 17th". Business Wire. July 26, 2017. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Brown, Shelby. "Sims 4: Tips, Tricks and Gameplay Basics for New Players". CNET. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Arif, Shabana (August 12, 2020). "How to get started in The Sims 4". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Jones, Rebecca (July 29, 2022). "The Sims 4 wants and fears: How wants and fears work in The Sims 4". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  5. Diaz, Ana (January 19, 2022). "The majority of Simlish is made up on the spot, say The Sims developers". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  6. Morton, Lauren; Sykes, Tom; published, Christopher Livingston (August 17, 2022). "The Sims 4 cheats: Every cheat code and life hack you need". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Best Sims 4 Expansion Packs, Game Packs and Stuff Packs to buy". Digital Spy . September 3, 2021. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Sims 4 CC guide: how to find, download, and install custom content". PCGamesN . Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  9. Horti, Samuel; Morton, Lauren; published, Jordan Erica Webber (August 31, 2022). "The best Sims 4 mods in 2022". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  10. Lee, Julia (October 10, 2021). "The Sims 4 guide: Custom content (CC) and mods". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  11. "The 7 Most Essential Sims 4 Gameplay Mods". Kotaku . January 11, 2019. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  12. RPS (May 29, 2020). "The 20 best Sims 4 CC on PC". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  13. Farokhmanesh, Megan (May 14, 2014). "Creation in The Sims 4 will be 'more intuitive, more powerful'". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  14. Osborn, Alex (January 14, 2017). "The Sims 4: Toddlers Now Available". IGN. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  15. "The Sims 4 infant update has a March due date". Eurogamer.net. February 1, 2023. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  16. Smith, Graham (March 14, 2023). "The Sims 4's free infants update has spawned". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  17. "The Sims 4 introduces Likes and Dislikes in free update for all players". Digital Spy. May 29, 2021. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  18. Gould-Wilson, Jasmine (July 30, 2022). "The Sims 4: How Occults Fit Into The World". TheGamer. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  19. Rutledge, Spencer (November 15, 2017). "Review: The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs – Hardcore Gamer". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  20. "Life simulation video game, The Sims, removes gender barriers in virtual world". BBC News . June 2, 2016. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  21. 1 2 Conditt, Jessica (June 2, 2016). "'Sims 4' removes gender barriers in Create-a-Sim". Engadget. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  22. "The Sims 4 fans campaign for game's dark skin tones to be fixed". Digital Spy. August 10, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  23. "The Sims 4 is finally getting better skin tones after months of community outcry". PCGamesN. August 12, 2020. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  24. Mosley, Robin. "Inside the World of Young Black Sims Content Creators". Wired. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  25. Morton, Lauren (December 7, 2020). "The Sims 4 new update adds over 100 skin tones and sliders to character creation". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  26. "The Sims 4 just took a huge step in diversity representation in gaming". Indy100 . December 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  27. "Sims 4 adds customisable pronouns in new update". Digital Spy. May 24, 2022. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  28. 1 2 Parrish, Ash (July 15, 2022). "The Sims 4 is expanding its sexual orientation options with new update". The Verge . Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  29. Langshaw, Mark (July 12, 2014). "The Sims retrospective: Simpler times for the iconic series". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  30. Antonelli, William. "How to unlock all items in The Sims 4, including debug items". Business Insider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  31. "The Sims 4's Build Mode lets you click, drag and construct". Polygon . May 28, 2014. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  32. "Sims 4 Gets Pools Today Through Free Update". GameSpot . Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  33. "The Sims 4 finally has a pond tool (and alligators)". PCGamesN. July 21, 2021. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  34. Nelius, Joanna (September 6, 2019). "You can finally customize staircases in The Sims 4". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  35. "The Sims 4 Ladders: How to build with ladders, ladder examples and limitations explained". Eurogamer . June 13, 2020. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  36. "The Sims 4: How to use platforms in build mode". Gamepur. November 9, 2020. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  37. Meluso, Maria (May 22, 2020). "The Sims 4: All Hidden Worlds (And How to Access Them)". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  38. Ashcroft, Helen (June 16, 2021). "The Sims 4 Cottage Living: Everything We Know So Far". TheGamer. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  39. "Sims 4 shares Arts & Crafts update and big news for consoles". Digital Spy. December 16, 2019. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  40. "The Sims 4 Players Guide" (PDF). Electronic Arts . Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  41. 1 2 3 "Sims 4: gaming's fascinating answer to reality TV". The Guardian. August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  42. Ashcroft, Helen (August 2, 2020). "The Sims 4: All Sim Deaths And How To Cause Them". TheGamer. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  43. 1 2 Gina (April 28, 2022). "Why There's Hope for The Sims 5". CBR . Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  44. Senior, Tom (September 5, 2012). "EA boss boasts: 'I have not green lit one game to be developed as a singleplayer experience'". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  45. "EA closes SimCity studio Maxis". Wired UK . Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  46. "SimCity: 'The problems are behind us'". the Guardian. March 11, 2013. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  47. "New The Sims 4 content sounds great, but I just want The Sims 5 already". TechRadar . August 11, 2021. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  48. "The Sims 4 does not require Internet connection". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  49. "EA Salt Lake lays off part of staff". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  50. "The Sims Dev EA Salt Lake Focusing on Mobile Following Layoffs". IGN. January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  51. "The Sims 4: your own personal soap opera". VG247. September 11, 2013. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  52. 1 2 3 4 "The Sims 4: how composer Ilan Eshkeri brings emotion to the screen". The Guardian. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  53. 1 2 3 Phillips, Tom (July 8, 2014). "EA responds to fan outcry over The Sims 4 missing features". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  54. Sarkar, Samit (June 26, 2014). "The Sims 4 will launch without pools and toddlers, and Sims fans are very upset". Polygon. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  55. 1 2 McElroy, Griffin (September 10, 2014). "The Sims 4 review: skin deep". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  56. 1 2 Langshaw, Mark (July 8, 2014). "Why no swimming pools in The Sims 4?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  57. 1 2 Sarkar, Samit (June 26, 2014). "The Sims 4 will launch without pools or toddlers, and Sims fans are very upset". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  58. Ponce, Tony (July 4, 2014). "The Sims 4: Producer Explains Why Toddlers and Pools Were Cut". Gameranx. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  59. Goldfarb, Andrew (May 6, 2013). "The Sims 4 Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  60. "The Sims 4 gamescom 2013: series has been"reinvented" with emotional gameplay". VG247 . August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  61. 1 2 Jackson, Leah B. (May 14, 2014). "The Sims 4 Create-a-Sim Trailer Shows How to Make Your Perfect Sim". IGN. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  62. Karmali, Luke (May 28, 2014). "The Sims 4 Makes Building a Home Quicker and Easier". IGN. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  63. 1 2 Jackson, Leah B. (June 9, 2014). "E3 2014: The Sims 4 Release Date Announced". IGN. j2 Global. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  64. Jackson, Leah B. (June 9, 2014). "E3 2014: The Sims 4 Release Date Announced". IGN. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  65. "The Sims 4 Demo Incoming, Pool and Toddler Omission Explained". IGN. July 8, 2014. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  66. "The Sims 4 Limited Edition vs Deluxe Edition compared". VentureBeat . August 31, 2014. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  67. "The Sims 4 for Mac is available now, here's what you need to know". Macworld. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  68. "'The Sims 4' will get weird on consoles November 17th". Engadget. July 26, 2017. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  69. Williams, Katie (June 2, 2014). "Sims 4 Steelseries Peripherals Revealed". IGN. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  70. "The Sims 4's New Fashion Photography Pack Is Shockingly Good". Kotaku. August 21, 2019. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  71. Webster, Andrew (July 8, 2020). "The Sims 4's new reality show has players compete to tell the best stories". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  72. 1 2 Teixeira, Miri (June 25, 2021). "'The Sims 4' gets its own "Simlish" music festival starring Glass Animals". NME. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  73. 1 2 Mercante, Alyssa (June 25, 2021). "The Sims 4 will stage an in-game music festival starring Glass Animals". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  74. 1 2 "The Sims 4 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  75. 1 2 "The Sims for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  76. 1 2 "The Sims for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  77. 1 2 3 "The Sims 4 Review". GameRevolution . September 4, 2014. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  78. 1 2 3 4 VanOrd, Kevin (September 10, 2014). "The Sims 4 review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  79. 1 2 3 Cooper, Lee (September 3, 2014). "Review: The Sims 4". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  80. 1 2 3 4 "The Sims 4 Review". IGN. September 1, 2014. Archived from the original on May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  81. 1 2 "The Sims 4 Review". Joystiq . September 9, 2014. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  82. 1 2 3 Thursten, Chris (September 9, 2014). "The Sims 4 review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  83. 1 2 "The Sims 4 review: want more from life? Create a sim | Gaming | Lifestyle | The Independent". The Independent . March 5, 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  84. "Review: 'Sims 4' Aspires to Greatness and Fails – ABC News". ABC News . Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  85. Favis, Elise. "The Sims 4 Review – A Faithful But Inferior Port". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  86. Sanchez, Miranda (November 20, 2017). "The Sims 4 Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  87. 1 2 "The Sims 4 Review | Reviews | The Escapist". November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  88. Ashley Reed (September 10, 2014). "The Sims 4 review". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  89. Carter, Justin (April 18, 2023). "The Sims 4 reaches franchise milestone with 70 million players". Game Developer. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  90. "The Sims 4 has racked up 30 million players since launch". PCGamesN. July 31, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  91. "The Sims 4 becomes first PC game to top all-format chart in two years". Digital Spy. September 8, 2014. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  92. "The Sims 4's expansions have over 30 million downloads". October 30, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  93. 1 2 Phillips, Tom (October 2, 2014). "EA will patch swimming pools, ghosts, Star Wars costumes into The Sims 4". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  94. "Over Two Years Later, The Sims 4 Gets Toddlers". Kotaku. January 12, 2017. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  95. Phil Savage (June 4, 2015). "The Sims 4 to get new neighbourhoods in free Newcrest update". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  96. Jones, Rebecca (November 3, 2021). "The Sims 4 Scenarios: how to start a new Scenario and how to win each challenge". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  97. "Hands-On With Sims 4's Long-Awaited Terrain Tools". Kotaku. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  98. Marshall, Cass (March 15, 2022). "New Sims 4 update gives neighbors more free will, potential accidental deaths". Polygon. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  99. "The Sims 4 producer explains why infants life stage is being added for free". Digital Spy. March 3, 2023. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  100. "Catharina Lavers Mallet takes over as Maxis boss". GamesIndustry.biz . April 23, 2021. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  101. McClure, Deven (October 19, 2022). "The Sims 4 Is 8 Years Late On Fixing Its Babies". ScreenRant. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  102. Writer, Rebecca Jones Former Guides; Jones, Rebecca (March 3, 2023). "The Sims 4 Growing Together adds some much-needed spark to Sims' relationships". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  103. 1 2 "'The Sims 4' will be free to play starting next month". Engadget . September 14, 2022. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  104. 1 2 Marshall, Cass (September 14, 2022). "The Sims 4 is going free to play". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  105. Smith, Graham (October 18, 2022). "The Sims 4 is getting an official platform for hosting and downloading mods". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  106. Bellingham, Hope (November 15, 2022). "The Sims 4 has now got its own official mod hub". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  107. Webster, Andrew (October 18, 2022). "EA teases the "next generation" of The Sims with Project Rene". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  108. Marshall, Cass (October 18, 2022). "The Sims 5 is in early development, has cool new build mode". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  109. Jones, Rebecca (May 15, 2020). "The Sims 4 best packs: all expansion packs and other DLC explained". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  110. Jones, Rebecca (May 15, 2020). "The Sims 4 best packs: all expansion packs and other DLC explained". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  111. "Advanced Search Results for The Sims 4 at Metacritic – Metacritic". Metacritic . Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  112. Webber, Jordan Erica (April 9, 2015). "The Sims 4: Get to Work review". pcgamer. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  113. "The Sims 4 Get Together". Gaming Nexus. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  114. Ashcroft, Helen (July 2, 2020). "10 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy City Living". TheGamer. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  115. "Review: The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs – Hardcore Gamer". Hardcore Gamer. November 15, 2017. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  116. Warr, Philippa (July 6, 2018). "The Sims 4: Seasons review". pcgamer. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  117. Weber, Rachel (November 16, 2018). "The Sims 4 Get Famous review: "Packs a huge amount of detail and gives it all a touch of glamour"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  118. "Sims 4: Island Living review – welcome to Sulani". Digital Spy. June 27, 2019. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  119. Marshall, Cass (November 15, 2019). "The Sims 4 University is better than actual college". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  120. Mercante, Alyssa (June 9, 2020). "The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle review: "The green life isn't a simple one, but it's certainly fulfilling"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  121. Ashcroft, Helen (November 17, 2020). "The Sims 4: Snowy Escape Review: A Return To Greatness". TheGamer. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  122. "The Sims 4: Cottage Living Is Already One Of Its Best Expansions". Kotaku. August 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  123. "Sims 4 High School Years review – is the new pack worth buying?". Digital Spy. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  124. "The Sims 4 Growing Together review". Digital Spy. March 22, 2023. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  125. Radulovic, Petrana (June 22, 2023). "Finally, The Sims 4 will let you release your inner horse girl". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  126. Lee, Jess (January 10, 2024). "The Sims 4 For Rent fails to live up to its potential". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  127. 1 2 Bell, Alice (September 4, 2020). "The Sims 4 is having an extremely normal one over its Star Wars DLC". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  128. Shaun Prescott (August 28, 2020). "A lot of Sims 4 players are annoyed about the new Star Wars Game Pack". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  129. Lee, Jess (January 2, 2020). "Sims 4 poll – what packs would you like to see in 2020?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  130. Valentine, Rebekah (February 9, 2022). "Sims 4 Wedding Expansion Won't Be Released In Russia Due To Anti-Gay Law". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  131. Orland, Kyle (February 10, 2022). ""Gay propaganda" law keeps Sims 4 wedding expansion out of Russia". Ars Technica . Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  132. Parrish, Ash (February 16, 2022). "EA reverses decision, will launch The Sims 4 wedding pack in Russia". The Verge. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  133. Francis, Bryant (September 14, 2022). "Lyndsay Pearson dishes on The Sims 4's recent development challenges". Game Developer. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  134. Goslin, Austen (March 4, 2022). "Electronic Arts stops sales in Russia, bans Russian teams from esports events". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  135. 1 2 Jiang, Sisi (February 25, 2022). "The Sims 4's Wedding Expansion Is Not The DLC That Fans Boycotted For". Kotaku. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  136. Taylor, Mollie (February 25, 2022). "I hoped the new Sims 4 wedding pack would fix marriages, but they're still broken as ever". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  137. 1 2 "Sims 4 responds to My Wedding Stories complaints". Digital Spy. March 4, 2022. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  138. "The Sims 4: My Wedding Stories". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  139. "Sims 4 patch finally fixes the broken wedding pack". PCGamesN. March 31, 2022. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  140. Cryer, Hirun (March 31, 2022). "The Sims 4 Wedding Stories is getting over 30 bug fixes after a rocky launch". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.