The Sims 4 Is Officially Going Free-To-Play
Put away those Simoleons because The Sims 4 is going free-to-play. Better yet, Maxis' larger than (real) life simulator is coming into your homes for the princely sum of nothing. Some eight years after the fourth main entry in the long-running series debuted, The Sims 4 is slashing its price to zero.
It's hard to believe it's been 22 years since we first moved into the neighbourhood and waved hello to the Goth Family. Since then, we've had expansion packs galore that have let you adopt pets, go on exotic holidays, and even learn magic. The base games have evolved too, and from being abducted by aliens to howling at the moon as werewolves, The Sims lets your wildest fantasies become a reality.
When Is The Sims 4 Going Free-To-Play?
Although there are questions about what comes next and the inevitable release of The Sims 5, Maxis and Electronic Arts are keen to milk the cash cow a little longer. We only just saw the release of the High School Years expansion that finally added body hair to the mix, but as we feel the game is winding toward its twilight, the team is keen to boost its fan base.
The Sims 4's official Origin page confirms that from October 18, the base version of the game will be completely free to download on PC. This massively changes the title's typical business model, but with those nabbing the game for free more likely to stump up for the price of the many expansions, it's a clever way to snag some newbies at this late stage of its life cycle.
If this wasn't enough, players on Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series will also be able to download The Sims 4 for free. The promo has no expiry date, meaning this feels like a permanent thing. For those who've already bought The Sims 4, you'll be gifted the Desert Luxe kit.
What's Next For The Sims?
Click to enlargeDoes this mean this is really the end of the road for The Sims 4? Eight years is a pretty good standard for any game, and although shooters like Overwatch and Fortnite have been staples of the scene for years now, they have constant updates to keep themselves fresh. The Sims 4 has this with expansions, but to have lasted so long relatively unchanged is an impressive feat.
Don't bet on The Sims 5 just yet though, as Maxis tells fans: "The team is more dedicated than ever to developing new and meaningful experiences for players, and will continue to develop and release packs, Kits and Sims Delivery Express drops into the foreseeable future." There could be a glimpse of what's to come, with the developer promising more on the franchise's future at October 18's Behind The Sims Summit live stream. In the meantime, playing God and drowning your Sims for the sadistic kick of it sounds even better if it'll cost you nothing to do it.
