EA Updates Franchise With Multiplayer, No ‘Sims 5’ Coming | Franchise

Electronic Arts‘ well-liked free-to-play life-simulation online game franchise “The Sims” is breaking from custom, with the gaming firm confirming Tuesday that there are not any plans for a “Sims 5” sport because the successor to the present version, “The Sims 4.”

Instead, “The Sims 4,” now a 10-year-old title and the longest-running installment within the franchise’s 25-year historical past, will proceed to obtain updates and paid expansions. Additionally, the “Sims” group shall be launching a brand new providing that can embody a multiplayer mode, and companion with some “Sims” gamers to promote their very own customized in-game content material by way of the EA retailer as “Creator Kits.” [Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that multiplayer mode would be coming to “The Sims 4.” The multiplayer addition to “The Sims” franchise is a separate project, currently dubbed “Project Rene,” and not part of “The Sims 4.”]

EA’s vice chairman and normal supervisor of “The Sims” franchise Kate Gorman advised Variety the principle purpose behind this determination to not publish a fifth version of the sport was the priority that gamers (there are greater than 80 million worldwide, per EA) must begin over again after a decade’s value of gameplay within the current “Sims 4.”

“The way to think about it is, historically, ‘The Sims’ franchise started with ‘Sims 1’ and then ‘Sims 2,’ ‘3’ and ‘4.’ And they were seen as replacements for the previous products,” Gorman stated. “What we’re really working with our community on is this a new era of ‘The Sims.’ We are not going to be working on replacements of previous projects; we’re only going to be adding to our universe. With that, you’ll see there are more ways to experience ‘The Sims’ on different platforms, different ways to play, transmedia, and lots of great offerings within this universe. So absolutely, we’re still continuing to support ‘TS4’ more than ever. Still continue to deliver expansion packs and updates and fixes. But what this is to say is, the way we’re going to do things going forward is a little different. And it’s really exciting and it’s really the most expansive iteration of ‘The Sims’ yet.”

For readability, when requested particularly if there won't be a “Sims 5,” Gorman stated, “it’s not ‘Sims 5’ as a replacement for ‘4.’”

“What this means is that we will continue to bring HD simulation experience and what people would want from a ‘5’ — but it doesn’t mean that we’re going to start you over, reset all your progress, and really feel like you’re going to lose all of that amazing play you put into ‘4,’” Gorman stated. “I think as we think about the future of it, we want you to continue all of those families and generations. Those creations are your progress, your attachment. We don’t want to reset your progress. And so it’s not about as much of what the numbers are in the games, but know that the future of the franchise looks more like keeping your progress, keeping things across titles, and really having an ongoing experience, and not a start-and-stop experience between products.”

EA introduced “The Sims” information in a weblog submit Tuesday that additionally famous a “major release of fixes” and “exciting base game update” for “The Sims 4” is coming Wednesday forward of the discharge of the sport’s subsequent enlargement pack, “Life & Death,” in October.

The online game writer additionally teased that “Sims” gamers will quickly discover out extra in regards to the elusive “Project Rene” that “The Sims” group has been engaged on for years — which was lengthy rumored to be a code identify for “The Sims 5” — together with the way it will incorporate multiplayer into “The Sims” world. The franchise has tried and failed at that effort earlier than with “The Sims Online,” which launched in 2002.

“We have a lot of learnings from ‘The Sims Online.’ We know that there is an opportunity to play in a very social, real time, multiplayer environment within our gamespace,” Gorman stated. “We haven’t delivered that experience with ‘The Sims 4’ or any of our other titles yet so we’re looking at what that means and could look like. We know simulation is at the core of everything we do and we want to make sure our players still have that experience they want, but in a world with real players and NPCs. We’re still gathering learnings and working on it but stay tuned.”

Gorman additionally expanded on the reveal that “The Sims” will start promoting “Creator Kits” primarily based on user-generated content material made by gamers — a highly regarded a part of “The Sims” gamer neighborhood, with many gamers sharing and downloading customized content material by way of the sport’s gallery, in addition to platforms like Discord and Patreon — confirming these creators shall be compensated for his or her work being offered as digital merchandise by EA.

“Our community is what makes ‘The Sims’ what it is today,” Gorman stated. “Our players drive us to evolve and innovate the content we develop and how we engage with them. We know our players love the creators within our community and we’re excited to expand how we support creators with ‘The Sims 4 Creator Kits.'”

She added: “We’re currently in the first phase of this new and long-term journey, and learning how to better discover, integrate and use Creator Kit content in a way that really expands the possibilities of what players can do within their gameplay. There is a lot more we’re working on to help empower creators to engage and express themselves, and we can’t wait to see how things progress from here. I can’t get into specifics, but we worked closely with our initial creator partners to compensate them for their work and will continue to evolve that process alongside the program.”

Gorman additionally spoke with Variety about an replace on “The Sims” film being produced at Amazon MGM Studios by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, which you'll learn extra about here.

See EA’s full weblog submit asserting information about the way forward for “The Sims” under.

Sul Sul, Simmers! 

We have a lot information to share with you about The Sims franchise! We’ve been within the lab increasing The Sims into an leisure platform pushed by you, our neighborhood, that features exploring experiential methods to play The Sims and new methods we’re supporting creators. Our ardour for creating merchandise filled with enjoyable, creativity and discovery has led us to new experiences all transferring on the velocity of popular culture. Keep studying to study what we’ve been cooking! 

Get able to get together prefer it’s the yr 2000!

Before we leap in… wow, it’s been practically 25 years for the reason that world was first launched to The Sims. Since then, greater than 500 million of you've got change into Simmers, embracing the pleasant chaos that comes with taking part in “fate” – guiding the one that you love Sims by way of life’s ups and downs and countless prospects (so many deleted pool ladders! 😆). You’ve proven that nobody does life like The Sims – unleashing your creativeness to craft one-of-a-kind tales, worlds, and adventures that seamlessly mix the true world with the Sims world.

We stay dedicated as ever to reimagining the best way individuals play with life and giving hundreds of thousands the prospect to attach over their shared love of The Sims as we push the boundaries of actuality. So far in 2024, Simmers have spent greater than 1.22.4 billion hours taking part in The Sims 4 and experimenting with life situations and decisions with out real-world penalties (759+ million hours spent in stay mode!). Whether it’s designing your dream residence (303+ million hours in construct mode!), customizing your Sims (640+ million Sims!) and worlds, reimagining the newest actuality TV drama, and even taking over the 100 Baby Challenge (65+ million infants made!) your creativity continues to amaze us. You’ve proven that if you happen to can dream it, you'll be able to Sim it! 

Watching Simmers unite over their self-expression and curiosity expressed inside The Sims has been our biggest pleasure. We love that you just share our mischievous humor and discover laughter each step of the best way as you deliver your visions to life (whether or not you’re profitable or not)! We can’t wait to have fun 25 years of The Sims with you and plan to kick issues off with an episode of Behind The Sims in January 2025. There’s a lot to stay up for within the coming months, and we simply can’t assist however share some with you now…!

The Hollywood rumors are true: The Sims is headed to the BIG SCREEN!

We’re VERY excited to share that in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios, our group is engaged on a movie primarily based on The Sims. Kate Herron will direct, in addition to co-write with Briony Redman. LuckyChap and Vertigo Entertainment will produce alongside The Sims group, with Herron and Redman govt producing. It’s nonetheless too early to share extra in regards to the film however keep tuned for updates as we mark our twenty fifth birthday subsequent yr!

You Make The Sims!

Our unimaginable neighborhood is the one purpose we’ll have fun 25 years of The Sims. Everything we do is for you, since you are what makes The Sims. As we construct in the direction of the longer term, we’re exploring extra methods to contain, interact, and reward our neighborhood. 

It’s with nice delight and enthusiasm that we’ll proceed increasing the methods we highlight your unimaginable tales, creations, and concepts. Since its launch, greater than 1 billion Sims 4 creations have been downloaded from the gallery and greater than 116 million items of content material uploaded, with hundreds of thousands extra belongings uploaded and downloaded throughout the broader Sims neighborhood. In addition, we’ve been collaborating with all forms of Simmers on a number of initiatives, starting from in-game creation by way of lot constructing and worlds to collaborations on Kits, base sport updates, packs and past. These collaborations have meant lots to us however extra importantly to our neighborhood and we aren’t finished but!

Allow Us to Proudly Introduce…

The Sims 4 Creator Kits: Designed and produced totally by creators in collaboration with The Sims 

Discover international creators whose content material is a MUST see – irrespective of the place you play! 

Creativity has lengthy been a core worth for The Sims franchise, and we obsess over seeing and showcasing the unimaginable expertise and artistry that lives inside our tight-knit neighborhood. This push to develop the methods we assist creators has led us to The Sims 4 Creator Kits. These kits are designed and constructed by neighborhood creators to create new collections that includes distinctive kinds and recent storytelling potential. These Creator Kits will mark the primary time {that a} full assortment of in-game belongings have been crafted by a creator and formally printed by The Sims improvement group, making them obtainable for all gamers. 

For The Sims 4 gamers who crave extra selection in customization and design, search for The Sims 4 Creator Kits to start out rolling out in November 2024 throughout our Sims channels and obtainable alongside our present collections of Kits. 

This is an enormous step ahead in delivering creator-made content material that’s console-friendly and curated with safeguards that can develop your sport with extra on-trend aesthetics and kinds. We’ve been working with some acquainted faces for some time now to raise their work and permit their creations to achieve much more of you to take pleasure in. Stand by for extra updates!

The Sims Creator Program: How we’re collaborating with international creators

Join us to get impressed and create like by no means earlier than!

The Sims Creator Program is the subsequent evolution of how we work with each established and up-and-coming creators all over the world. With this official program, creators will acquire entry to a variety of unique perks, together with early entry to imminent Packs, direct communication with fellow creators and The Sims group, free swag, alternatives to collaborate, and extra.

We’re searching for creators who often create authentic The Sims content material throughout social platforms and varied forms of creators who is likely to be new to The Sims, together with those that are crafting mods or customized content material, or nurturing communities throughout varied platforms. Whether you’re a extra established voice or an rising creator, we welcome you to use to affix us. 

The Sims Labs – Innovating, bettering and evolving throughout our stay and future merchandise

Let’s construct the way forward for The Sims collectively!

ICYMI! Our Sims franchise of video games in the present day and into the longer term will ship on many gameplay and storytelling kinds for the rising variety of you all over the world, and we’re excited so that you can see what we’ve been engaged on! Creating this imaginative and prescient includes innovating throughout a number of merchandise to ship new experiences, and thru The Sims Labs we’ll discover new experimental methods to play The Sims. 

Over the subsequent few months, you may begin to see The Sims Labs present up after we’re making an attempt out various things for Sims merchandise, programs and options. This is your pleasant reminder to join an opportunity to playtest in The Sims Labs right here, and if you happen to match the necessities we’re searching for, you'll obtain an e-mail with additional directions. In the meantime, right here’s a sneak peek at a few of what we’ll be testing developing quickly!

The Sims Franchise – Live and Future Product Updates

When we speak about The Sims as an leisure platform pushed by our neighborhood, it’s as a result of we see the way forward for The Sims as greater than anybody title. We’re increasing the franchise to raised serve the varied wants of the rising variety of Simmers all over the world. The Sims will transfer past linear, sequential Sims releases and supply extra choices for gamers than ever earlier than. We’re centered on creating a wide range of video games and experiences that can contact completely different classes throughout the simulated life style together with cozy video games, social and collaborative primarily based gameplay, cellular narrative video games and continued depth, enhancements, and modernization of The Sims 4, which can proceed to be a foundational Sims expertise.

We’re creating new and progressive experiences that join with gamers on their phrases, wherever they're and nevertheless they select to play. These explorations are being examined through The Sims Labs together with particular person options from Project Rene, a narrative pushed cellular check, enhancements to The Sims 4 with discovery and search instruments, creator instruments, and extra.  

For now, preserve studying for the newest information about our stay and future merchandise!

MySims: Cozy Bundle – Two lovable video games return with cute adventures and enjoyable for everybody!

Coming quickly to Nintendo Switch: Retro re-releases of MySims and MySims Kingdom

So a lot of our gamers have been asking for the return of MySims. We’re thrilled to share that we’re reinvigorating the MySims product line, starting with two lovable video games obtainable quickly on Nintendo Switch. With the MySims: Cozy Bundle, we’re honoring our Sims legacy as we put together for our twenty fifth birthday with this charming fan-favorite spin-off. You can anticipate two beloved video games, MySims and MySims Kingdom, in which you'll discover acquainted worlds which might be filled with puzzles to unravel, uncover areas, meet a lot of characters with large personalities and construct, paint and embellish! Get able to customise cozy worlds, model your cute Sims, and get re-introduced to everybody’s favourite MySims Kingdom triceratops, Bobaboo!

With this retro re-release you'll be able to anticipate Nintendo Switch controls and contact display assist, upgraded graphics, in addition to much-requested particular content material from the unique PC launch returning to MySims. And, look out for cute MySims merch coming to shopthesims.com additionally in November 2024!  

Preorder MySims: Cozy Bundle now within the Nintendo eShop, at retail and on Nintendo.com to start out taking part in when it launches for Nintendo Switch on November 19, 2024.*

Project Rene – Expanding the methods to play in The Sims 

Be among the many first to see the brand new world as playtesting continues!

Continuing its improvement alongside different thrilling new initiatives inside The Sims franchise, Project Rene is concentrated on constructing methods for buddies to fulfill, join, and share whereas taking part in collectively in an all-new world.

There shall be a small invite-only playtest for Rene this Fall 2024, giving an early have a look at a multiplayer expertise that explores becoming a member of buddies and different gamers at a shared location. Sign up for the prospect to playtest in The Sims Labs right here and be among the many first to play within the new world! We’ll proceed to share extra data on the sport’s improvement and milestones alongside the best way. 

The Sims 4 – Testing new options as we spend money on enhancements and modernization efforts 

We’ve been increasing all of the methods to play with life in The Sims 4 for 10 years, creating an expansive simulation expertise. We have large plans to proceed constructing upon and bettering this highly effective life simulation sport performed all over the world by greater than 80 million individuals! 

In May 2024, we introduced that we’ve assembled a group to spend money on the core sport expertise, together with tackling technical points. We’ve invested additional into these efforts to give attention to beforehand reported points, high quality assurance and sport optimization for future releases. Batches of fixes will proceed to be launched roughly each two months till additional discover. On September 18, 2024, our gamers can anticipate one other main launch of fixes alongside an thrilling base sport replace. 

The Sims 4 builders are exhausting at work investing in significant new options and base sport updates. We proceed to discover new methods to play; to shock and delight; to evolve the sport in each look and gameplay expertise. The ‘Happy at Home’ occasion was our first foray into a brand new technique to play and we had been inspired to see what number of of you loved this new characteristic. We just lately introduced that developing subsequent is the Reaper’s Rewards Event, the place you’ll have the prospect to play alongside Grim himself and earn unique new rewards on September 24, 2024!

We’re excited in regards to the street forward for The Sims 4, and might’t wait to share what we've deliberate subsequent for this sport!

The Sims FreePlay – A brand new area impressed by mountainside cities is coming quickly!

For greater than a decade, The Sims FreePlay has captured the pleasant unpredictability and playfulness of The Sims on cellular platforms. We stay as dedicated as ever to elevating our sport to be an unmatched town-builder expertise, constantly bettering the expertise with new content material, gameplay, and visible enhancements.

Our subsequent content material updates will open a completely new area impressed by mountainside cities. It could be the coziest area created for the sport but, excellent for exploring as we head into the vacation season! 

Here’s to celebrating the very best of The Sims, previous, current, and future! Vadish, Simmers! 

Thank you for persevering with to be part of our journey! The countdown to our twenty fifth birthday is formally on! In the meantime, we hope you benefit from the many new methods to expertise The Sims as they roll out alongside our basic Sims experiences. To keep knowledgeable on these efforts, please be a part of us in our Discord neighborhood server and keep tuned to our channels (X, IG, TikTook), newsroom at TheSims.com/information and episodes of Behind The Sims, the place we’ll be often sharing updates. 

Dag Dag,

The Sims Team