Eight years after its release, The Sims 4 is finally going free-to-play. EA is slowly realising that the freemium model is the new meta for games. Or, at least, this one.
It makes perfect sense. Lure customers in with a free game, then charge exorbitant amounts for the DLC that accompanies it. 100 million kids on Fortnite can’t be wrong, can they? Well, actually…
Goodbye Sims 4? Hello, Sims 5?
Surprisingly, the game is going free-to-play on all platforms, not only on EA’s Origin. Whether you’re on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or one of the other consoles that run The Sims 4, you’ll be able to download it for free starting on 18 October. Once you’ve got the free game, you can choose from more than 40 different expansions, kits, and “stuff” packs. No, that isn’t some poor attempt at a Stuff joke. EA actually calls a section of DLC that you can pay real money for “stuff packs”.
If for some reason you decide to purchase The Sims 4 before it goes free-to-play, you’ll receive the Desert Luxe Kit as a free “gift” to compensate you for your losses. That way, you’re only losing out on R300. Thanks, EA.
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If you were worried that EA was making the game free to make room for The Sims 5, don’t. EA “…is more dedicated than ever to developing new and meaningful The Sims 4 experiences for our players and we will continue to develop and release packs, kits and Sims Delivery Express drops into the foreseeable future.”
That settles it. EA is nowhere near a release for The Sims 5. Unless… Jeff Grubb, the popular game leaker and journalist, believes the game could be announced as soon as next month, right after the previous instalment goes free-to-play. We wonder how many fans will spend money on DLC for The Sims 4 before the sequel is announced days later. At least a few — which is something EA will be counting on.