You'll soon be able to play The Sims 4 for free

[Mr Jt (Gog is king)]

The Sims 4 is a financial monster of a game to get into, but it looks like EA is trying to make the entry point a little smoother. The publisher has just revealed that the base game is shedding its price tag and going free-to-play from October 18.

Hours before the official announcement word had already been going around—the game's Origin store page was already displaying a big ol' banner proclaiming "The Sims 4 will be free to play starting October 18." Instant Gaming (opens in new tab) also managed to get its hands on two screenshots advertising that the base game was free, which have been circulating on Twitter for most of the day.

It's worth emphasising that it is just the base game that's becoming free—something that has pretty regularly gone on sale for around $5 to $10 for the last few years now and received a permanent price cut back in April. The main moneymaker continues to lie in The Sims 4's countless expansion packs, but this is also the first time I can recall that EA has made any of its Sims games free while it was still current. Those who've already given their cold hard cash away for the base game will receive the Desert Luxe Kit for free which is a nice touch, but if you already own that too then you won't be entitled to any additional goodies. That's valid up until October 17, so if for any reason you feel spurred to buy the base game, now's the time to do it.


I can't help but speculate on why EA is actually doing this, especially when the base game is already so consistently cheap. It definitely feels like a great way to lure over curious simmers to try out the game, realise how many cool gameplay mechanics are locked behind expansions and then hope they drop a few bucks on them. Hell, it's basically how I ended up dropping heaps of money on the game. It could also spell a transition towards a more live-service model, drip-feeding content on a more seasonal basis. My copium would like to think that it means a Sims 5 (opens in new tab)announcement is imminent. After all, The Sims 4 is the longest-running entry in the series, celebrating its eighth anniversary earlier this month. There's been a noticeable winding down on larger packs as of late and with the base game so old by now, an upcoming sequel announcement just makes sense.

Regardless of the reasoning behind it, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough with a stream titled Behind The Sims Summit also happening on October 18. EA says it'll be "sharing more about what's in the works" for the game. That stream will be happening at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST over on The Sims YouTube (opens in new tab) and Twitch.

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/author/mollie-taylor/

[Vinz Clortho]

The first hit is always free.

[Rio]

With dlcs for dlc, and more dlcs than a closet can hold. It should have gone ftp a long time ago.

[Neurotic Panda]

Автор сообщения: Mr Jt (Gog is king)

this is also the first time I can recall that EA has made any of its Sims games free while it was still current.

nah. its been free on Epic a few times already, even going back a couple years..

are the $1k in DLC free too? nah.

is this a copy paste? or are you an EA shill?

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

I wouldnt be shocked if it or TS5 turns into a subscription.

[Phirestar]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118520/

[MinionJoe]

Still won't play EA, even if it's free. They still owe me $50 for bricking my old PC with SecurROM back in 2010.

[lee_bobbins]

have you ever played sims3? It is a MUCH better game imo. Every version of the sims (sims 1, 2, and 3) each of those versions, when the base game was first released, made much more money than the previous. All except for sims 4. When it was released it made half as much compared to sims 3.

yea I'd play it for free but there's no way I'd spend good money on it.

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

I recommend The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection, TS2 is the best in the series.

[lee_bobbins]

I remember the last Store Set ever made for sims 3. One lot in one town, for sims 3, one frickin little store set was bigger than the entire base game for sims 4. Seriously not kiding, sims 4 looked like a facebook app in comparison, a game so tiny it would fit on your phone. Which is why so many established fans pointedly refused to buy it.

[lee_bobbins]

holy cow, Paralives might have a color wheel, AND saturation, just like the old sims 3?! maybe patterns too?

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TAKE MY MONEY

thank you so much Phirestar for mentioning that!! <3 <3 <3

Автор сообщения: MinionJoe

Still won't play EA, even if it's free. They still owe me $50 for bricking my old PC with SecurROM back in 2010.

I feel you, I hate EA too for what they did to the sims franchise. they deserve for some other company to replace them.

[TruebornJester]

Why would I play four for free when I have three and it's better.

[FAlty75]

Sims 5 is apparently being announced next month so makes sense

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

Tbh I don't trust Paralives, like I think the dude is just trying to milk it for money. I doubt it's a legit full game, I'll believe it when I see it.

[Kiddiec͕̤̱͋̿͑͠at 🃏]

Автор сообщения: Mr Jt (Gog is king)

The Sims 4 is a financial monster ...
It's worth emphasising that it is just the base game that's becoming free ... The main moneymaker continues to lie in The Sims 4's countless expansion packs, ... Those who've already given their cold hard cash away for the base game will receive the Desert Luxe Kit for free which is a nice touch, but if you already own that too then you won't be entitled to any additional goodies.
...

I can't help but speculate on why EA is actually doing this, ... It definitely feels like a great way to lure over curious simmers to try out the game, realise how many cool gameplay mechanics are locked behind expansions and then hope they drop a few bucks on them. ... It could also spell a transition towards a more live-service model, drip-feeding content on a more seasonal basis. ...

Автор сообщения: Neurotic Panda

...
is this a copy paste? or are you an EA shill?

🤨

I have no idea how you get "shilling" out of that, unless you didn't even read it, but it seems that it IS a copy & paste :
https://www.google.com/search?q="The+Sims+4+is+a+financial+monster+of+a+game+to+get+into%2C+but+it+looks+like+EA+is+trying+to+make+the+entry+point+a+little+smoother."

All you have to do is plug 2 quotations into Google and shove the first sentence in-between them, then hit search, instead of asking or claiming.

First result is the link that JT included at the bottom of his post, though.

[tyl0413]

So they gonna triple the expansions prices and introduce a battle pass, skins, a subscription server and so on?