The Sims 4

The Sims 4
2019-present box art
Developer(s)	Maxis[a]
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Producer(s)	Kevin Gibson Grant Rodiek Ryan Michael 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)	Microsoft Windows macOS PlayStation 4 Xbox One
Release	Microsoft Windows NA: September 2, 2014 AU: September 4, 2014 EU: September 4, 2014 UK: September 5, 2014 macOS WW: February 17, 2015 PlayStation 4, Xbox One WW: November 17, 2017
Genre(s)	Simulation
Mode(s)	Single-player

The Sims 4 is a 2014 strategic life simulation video game developed by the Redwood Shores studio of Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the fourth major title in The Sims series. It was announced on May 6, 2013 and released in North America on September 2, 2014 for Microsoft Windows.^[1] The game was ported to macOS on February 17, 2015, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles on November 17, 2017.^[2] The Sims 4 was the first PC game to top all-format charts in two years.^[3] The game has received mixed reviews since its release, with the majority of criticism directed towards its lack of content.^[4]

The Sims 4 has received numerous downloadable content packs. Eleven expansion packs, ten "game packs", eighteen "stuff packs" and five "kits" have been released; the most recent expansion pack is Cottage Living, released on July 22, 2021. Many free updates have been released throughout the game's lifespan that include major features and additions to the game, such as the addition of swimming pools and a toddler life stage.

Gameplay[]

The Sims 4 is a life simulation game, similar to its predecessors. There is no primary objective or goal to achieve (with the exception of some game packs), and instead of fulfilling objectives, the player is encouraged to make choices and engage fully in an interactive environment. The focus of the games is on the simulated lives of virtual people called "Sims". The player is responsible for directing their actions, attending to their needs, and helping them attain their desires. Players control their life and explore different personalities which change the way the game plays out. Players can play with pre-existing Sims and families, or create their own.

They can place their Sims in pre-constructed homes or build their houses using the in-game building tools, then furnish the homes with objects from an in-game catalog. Optional add-ons and expansion packs expand the number of features, tools, and objects available to play with.^[5][6][7]

Similar to previous The Sims games, player-created challenges abound. A popular one is the Legacy Challenge, in which players create a single Sim and try to make its family line last for ten generations.^[8] There are cheat codes such as "motherlode", which enables the player to instantly add §50,000 (Simoleons) to a Sim's household.^[9]

Create-a-Sim[]

Sliders in Create-a-Sim have been removed in favor of direct mouse manipulation.

One major change to Create-a-Sim functionality in The Sims 4 compared to previous games, is that sliders have been replaced by direct mouse manipulation. By clicking, dragging, and pulling with the mouse, players may directly manipulate the facial features of a Sim. Players can directly manipulate any body part including the abdomen, chest, legs, arms and feet. In previous Sims games, only the fitness and fatness can be manipulated on a Sim's body; however, fitness and fatness levels may still be adjusted in The Sims 4 with sliders as in previous games. The base game comes with over 40 hairstyles for both male and female Sims. There are up to 18 hair color options per hairstyle. Selections of premade designs of Sims are available to choose from, and range in body shape and ethnicity.

Seven life stages are available; namely baby, toddler, child, teenager, young adult, adult and elder. The baby life stage is accessible only through the birth of a Sim and not available in Create-a-Sim. Toddlers were absent from the original game release but were added in a patch in early 2017.^[10][11]

Each Sim has three personality traits and an aspiration containing its own special trait.

Compared to previous Sims games where everyday, formal, sleepwear, athletic, party and swimwear outfits were restricted to having their own clothing options, all clothing options are available across all outfits and players are allowed up to 5 outfits per category. There is a filter panel where clothing options can be sorted by color, material, outfit category, fashion choice, style, content and packs.

In a mid-2016 update, gender options were expanded in the game, allowing any gender expression. With this update, haircuts and outfits can be worn by any Sim of any gender, and pregnancy can become a possibility regardless of the gender.^[12][13]

A late-2020 update was released to allow for more diverse customizations. For example, the skin color of the Sims can be set by dividing them into warm and cold colors. The makeup has been updated to adjust transparency and saturation so that it can be customized more and more diverse ways.^[14]

Build/Buy mode[]

In The Sims 4, build and buy modes have been combined and are treated as a single feature.^[15] A detailed build-and-buy system is included along with several neighborhoods and landscaping. Some locked buy mode items may be unlocked through the progression of career levels.

The Sims 4 features a revitalized, room-based build mode. Entire buildings and rooms can be moved across a lot, including all objects, floor and wall coverings, doors and windows.^[16] There is a search option to search for build and buy mode options.^[17] There are premade rooms that can be placed instantly. Wall heights can be adjusted. The Sims 4 improves upon the blueprint mode of The Sims 3, allowing players to place down fully furnished rooms in a variety of styles. There is also a pool tool with triangular, square and octagonal pool tool options.

Several pre-existing build mode features have also been updated. Walls and half walls now have one of three different heights, set on each individual level of a building.^[17] Windows placed on walls can be moved up or down vertically along the wall. Windows can be automatically added to rooms, then adjusted by the player as needed. Columns automatically stretch or contract to match the height of the walls on a particular level, and can be added to railings without the use of the "moveobjects" cheat.^[17] Foundations are no longer treated as separate levels on a building. Foundations can be added to or removed from a building, even if the building is already built, and the height of the foundation can be adjusted.^[17]

Gallery[]

The Gallery is an online custom content exchange for The Sims 4. It allows players to share Sims, families, households, rooms and buildings with other players, and allows players to instantly add other player creations directly into the game. Unlike Exchange networks in previous titles, the Gallery is fully integrated into The Sims 4,^[18] and content can be added to the gallery directly from within the game, or downloaded and immediately used in-game. The Gallery is also accessible through The Sims 4 website or the now-defunct The Sims 4 Gallery mobile app.^[19][20] The Gallery was made available to console versions of The Sims 4 in early 2020.^[21]

Worlds[]

In The Sims 4, a world is a collection of individual neighborhoods within a single playable map. Unlike previous games, Sims can visit different worlds without having to move out, and Sims from inactive households may occasionally be seen visiting other worlds. Almost any lot can be visited directly from the map, and will have a unique lot assignment. Secret lots cannot be visited from the map, and can only be accessed through interacting with neighborhood amenities or through active careers. Additional worlds are introduced to the game via patches, expansion packs and "game packs".

Unlike The Sims 3, The Sims 4 does not feature an open-world concept and visiting another lot will bring up a loading screen. Neighborhoods, however, allow open-world functionality to an extent by allowing Sims to explore freely within the neighborhood's boundaries. Switching between worlds also brings up a loading screen; players can jump between worlds by going into map view or by using the phone to travel.

Unlike The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, there are no official tools available for players to create their own custom worlds. Producer Grant Rodiek stated in 2018, "It isn't out of the question", in regards to a question on Twitter about the possible introduction of a world creation tool. However, he mentioned that the issue was, "a conversation we need to have to figure out."^[22] As of 2021, no world creation tool for The Sims 4 has been announced.

The Sims 4 comes with three worlds: Willow Creek - a New Orleans-inspired world, Oasis Springs - a Southwestern United States-inspired world, and Newcrest - a world that comes with blank lots free for the player to build upon. Additional worlds are included in expansion packs and game packs, with the added world usually being a core feature of the pack. For example, Island Living introduces a tropical island world named Sulani, Jungle Adventure introduces a Latin American-inspired vacation world, and Snowy Escape introduces a snow-capped mountainous Japanese-inspired world named Mt. Komorebi.

Emotions[]

Emotion is a gameplay mechanic introduced in The Sims 4,^[23] which is a core part of a Sim's simology. It is similar to moods in previous titles, but is more easily affected by in-game events and social interactions with other Sims. Moodlets influence the current emotion of a Sim. The current emotional state of a Sim is depicted in the lower left corner of the screen while playing. It is also noted that some objects in-game can affect the emotions of some Sims,^[23] though the Sim has to be already feeling in a particular way in order for an object to affect them emotionally.^[24]

There are several ranges of emotions. Sims may reach one stage of an emotion, and then progress to a second, more extreme stage of the same emotion. For the case of Anger, Embarrassment and Playfulness, they can then progress to the third stage (Enraged, Mortified and Hysterical, respectively), which is an even more extreme stage that can lead to emotional death. For instance, a Sim that is "embarrassed" may become "very embarrassed", more embarrassment leads to "mortified". Sims that stay in that extreme emotional state may eventually die from it.^[25]

Development[]

The Sims 4 is a single-player game^[26] and does not require a constant Internet connection to play. However, players need an Origin account and internet access during the initial installation process for game activation.^[27] Ilan Eshkeri serves as the composer for the game's orchestral soundtrack, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.^[28][29]

On April 25, 2013, several screenshots from mock-up flash videos of the user interface were leaked online.^[30] On May 3, 2013, Electronic Arts sent out an e-mail to several fansites stating that there would be a big announcement on May 6, 2013, which many speculated would be The Sims 4.^[31]

On August 20, 2013, The Sims 4 was revealed via gameplay demo and release trailer at Gamescom 2013. Previews of the building and character creation systems debuted in early 2014. Additional game footage and the release date were revealed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on June 9, 2014.^[1]

Gameplay was unveiled during Gamescom 2013. Unveiled features focused on the improved Create-a-Sim with an all-new click-and-drag feature, omitting the use of sliders, and the addition of emotions for Sims.^[32] Select players called Yibsims who mostly manage fan sites and YouTube videos were invited to Sims Camp to see the game before the public and press. Consequently, the game received minimal coverage outside fansites. Maxis stated the game would run better on lower-end computers than The Sims 3, which was plagued with performance issues.^[33]

It was rumored that The Sims 4 would be released in early 2014, but it was later revealed to be released September 2, 2014.^[1][34]

On May 14, 2014, producer Ryan Vaughan unveiled another Create-a-Sim trailer on YouTube. This included a preview of what the pre-made Sims Bella Goth and Mortimer Goth would look like in The Sims 4.^[35] The development team unveiled another trailer on May 28, 2014, that showcased the new Build Mode features. Players can choose between three different wall heights and adjust the location of a window on a wall, as well as be able to move an entire room from one position to another.^[36]

Maxis unveiled another gameplay trailer including more gameplay footage and announced the release date of the game, September 2, 2014, during a press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo on June 9, 2014. The Sims 4 was released on September 2 in North America and September 4 in the European Union, Australia and Brazil.^[1]

On June 28, 2014, a video was released showing the "originality" of each Sim and their emotions.^[37]

Post-release[]

2014-2019 box art for The Sims 4.

The Sims 4 regularly receives free patches, usually fixing bugs and adding features and objects to the game. Notable features added via patches include pools, toddler Sim life stage, the Newcrest world, gender customization in Create-a-Sim, hot tubs and the calendar system.

In January 2015, Maxis announced the Outdoor Retreat "game pack", the first content pack for The Sims 4.^[38] "Game packs" are a new type of content packs not seen in previous Sims titles, slotting in between stuff packs and expansion packs.

In December 2015, a 64-bit version of The Sims 4 was patched into the game.^[39] The 32-bit version was included alongside the 64-bit version, until the introduction of the Legacy Edition in November 2019.^[40] The Legacy Edition of The Sims 4 is maintained for backward compatibility purposes, for Windows PCs unable to run the 64-bit version and Macs that do not support Metal. It does not support content packs released after Realm of Magic and does not receive any further patches.^[40]

Until mid-2017, there were no plans for a console release; versions of the game for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were confirmed for release on November 17, 2017.^[41][42][43]

In July 2019, Maxis revealed a rebrand to The Sims 4, introducing redesigned logos and a new game interface. All box arts for the base game, expansion packs, game packs and stuff packs were redesigned as well.

"Kits" were introduced to The Sims 4 in February 2021, with the release of the Throwback Fit Kit, Country Kitchen Kit and Bust The Dust Kit kits on March 2, 2021.^[44] Kits are intended to exclusively focus on either Build/Buy mode items, Create-a-Sim items or gameplay additions.

As The Sims 4 received more patches, lags and freezes in the simulation of the game started occurring more frequently, an issue coined as "simulation lag". This issue was officially acknowledged by Maxis via a blog post in April 2021, with a patch in July 2021 promising to alleviate "simulation lag" issues, albeit not completely fixing them.^[45][46]

Significant patch features[]

macOS version[]

Upon the first announcement, Maxis stated that The Sims 4 was in development for both macOS and Microsoft Windows, both to be released in 2014; however, closer to the release date, the company stated that they were "focused [on] Windows"^[65] and had "no updates on the Mac at this time".^[66][67] In October 2014 further information was disclosed suggesting the future release of a Mac version. Vaughn told International Business Times that the team was "working on a Mac version right now."^[68] On January 13, 2015, Maxis confirmed the release of the macOS version to be February 2015.^[69]

On February 2, they announced via The Sims Twitter feed that the Mac version of The Sims 4 would be released on February 17, 2015.^[70][71]

Mod support[]

The Windows and macOS versions of The Sims 4 have extensive mod support, as per tradition in the main Sims series. There are two types of mods: script mods and custom content. Script mods are written in Python, typically modifying or adding gameplay mechanics.^[72] There is also a large variety of custom content available, such as custom hairstyles, clothing, skin tones and furniture.

The game was upgraded from Python 3.3.5 to 3.7.0 in an October 2018 patch, which broke compatibility with existing script mods. All incompatible script mods have to be updated for the patch.^[73]

The Sims 4 has been criticized by players for the lack of diversity in Create-a-Sim, leading players to create custom content to fill gaps in the game's diversity options.^[74][75][76] Due to player demand, Maxis consulted these custom content creators when developing a wider range of skin tones for a December 2020 patch.^[59]

Controversies[]

Missing features[]

Earlier in the development process, a fan-site interview with a producer had revealed Create-a-Style, a customization feature introduced in the previous The Sims game, would not be added to The Sims 4 in lieu of other features.^[77] The developers announced through a series of tweets that the game would ship with a "stripped-down" version of story-progression (a gameplay mechanic controlling neighborhood autonomy), and that basements, grocery stores, and school and work locations would not be featured in the game. While careers and schools would still be featured, they would be represented differently from The Sims 3, more akin to the way they were featured in The Sims 2.^[78][79][80]

These announcements sparked criticism among many fans who speculated that the exclusion of arguably core features were intended by the developers or parent company to be left out for later paid content, or in order to make rushed deadlines.^[81][82] A petition was launched by some fans to have the features restored for the initial release, even if the release date were to be pushed back.^[83]

Maxis contended that it was not possible to include every feature in the new game that had been added over time in the six years The Sims 3 was in development, and that these could always be added at a later date, although they did not confirm exactly how this would be done, or whether it would be free or at a cost.^[82] Some speculated that many new features would be released through paid expansion packs, but others speculated that some of the more "basic, core" content (i.e. pools, toddlers) would be released as free patch updates, similar to how some new features were patched free into The Sims 3, such as basement features.^[84]

Questioned as to why some features, such as a cupcake machine, were implemented over what many viewed as key gameplay, Maxis and The Sims producer Graham Nardone attributed the sacrifice to time constraints, the workload and distribution of developers (and the comparative lack of available developers to some areas of production to other areas), as well as risk factors.^[85]

Producer Rachel Franklin later elaborated in an official blog post, acknowledging the concerns of fans, and explained the issue on the developer's focus on The Sims 4's new core game engine technologies, and that the sacrifices the team had to make were a "hard pill to swallow". Franklin stated new features such as Sim emotions, advanced Sim animations, interactions and behaviors, as well as the new Create-a-Sim and build mode tools as a large part of the reason that detracted focus from features such as swimming pools and the toddler life stage.^[86]

On October 1, 2014, Maxis confirmed that swimming pools, along with other new updates and features, would be added into the game for free via a game patch in November 2014.^[87][88][89] Other features like basements have later been added in subsequent patches, and the missing toddler life stage was eventually added for free in a patch released in January 2017.^[10][11]

My First Pet Stuff[]

My First Pet Stuff, the fourteenth stuff pack for The Sims 4, was announced on March 7, 2018. The stuff pack announcement was received negatively by players, as this was the first stuff pack for The Sims 4 that required another downloadable content pack (Cats & Dogs expansion pack) to utilize all the added items in the pack.^[90] Players have also noticed that many assets in My First Pet Stuff are recolors of existing objects in the base game and Cats & Dogs, arguing that these objects should have been added as a free patch for Cats & Dogs instead.^[91]

In response to the controversy, producer Grant Rodiek stated in a series of tweets that the development team "wanted to experiment" with the release of My First Pet Stuff, and despite negative player feedback, the pack "sold well".^[92] However, Rodiek stated that they were unlikely to release another stuff pack for The Sims 4 that required another downloadable content pack, saying they "probably won't do this in the future".^[92] The next stuff pack, Moschino Stuff, was released in August 2019, 17 months after the release of My First Pet Stuff.

Star Wars: Journey to Batuu[]

Star Wars: Journey to Batuu, the ninth game pack for The Sims 4, was announced on August 27, 2020. The game pack announcement was received negatively by players, who felt it de-prioritized features that were still missing from the game, and indicated this pack release was part of Maxis' roadmap for the game in 2020, and that Maxis had worked on it for months. Others presumed that it was a contractual obligation given EA's ownership of the Star Wars video game franchise.^[93][94]

An independent poll, hosted before the release of the pack, asked players what themes they would like to see in future The Sims 4 packs; Star Wars came in last out of twenty-one possible choices.^[95] Game Rant wrote that the release "frustrated fans considerably."^[96]

Executive producer Lyndsay Pearson addressed the criticism in a series of tweets on September 1, 2020, taking responsibility for approving of the Star Wars pack. She also stated that the development team were continuing to work on different projects for the game at the same time and insisted that they were not ignoring their feedback.^[97]

Variety of skin tones[]

Since the release of The Sims 4, players complained about a lack of realistic skin tones for The Sims 4, particularly for darker-skinned Sims.^[98][76] One player named Xmiramira was critical of the issue, and following her appearance on the reality TV series The Sims Spark'd, which aired from July to August 2020, her mod for additional dark skin tones received significant media attention.^[74][75] Following this, Pearson posted a video on Twitter on August 12, 2020, stating that the development team would fix the visual artifacts of the current skin tones and bring new skin tones into the game in the fall.^[99]

Pearson further reiterated these sentiments in a blog post on The Sims official website on September 3, 2020, stating that the development team were carefully considering how and when to develop and implement missing features and skintones into the game.^[100] Customization updates to the skin tones were introduced in a December 2020 patch.^[101] These updates include adjustable sliders that modify the brightness of the skin colours, along with more presets. They also introduced makeup sliders so that the makeup would match the new skin tones.

Marketing and release[]

SteelSeries and EA announced a series of themed peripherals to promote The Sims 4, including a pair of headphones, a computer mouse that lights up in accordance with Sims' in-game emotional states, and a mousepad featuring a render of various Sim groups.^[102]

A free demo was released on Aug 12, 2014, showcasing the new Create-a-Sim mode of the game.^{[35][103][104][105]} TV spots were also produced narrated by actor Charlie Day.

The game was first released on September 2, 2014, in five editions: the standard edition, the pre-order only Limited Edition, the Digital Deluxe Edition on Origin, the Premium Edition and the Collector's Edition. The Limited Edition adds the Life of the Party additional downloadable content, while the Digital Deluxe Edition also adds the Awesome Animal Hats and Up All Night DLC packs and a digital release of the game's soundtrack. The Premium Edition is a physical release of the Digital Deluxe Edition with a creator's guide book, while the Collector's Edition also contains a USB color-changing PlumbBob by SteelSeries, which changes color depending on the playable Sim's mood.

Various bundles combining one expansion pack with two game packs and/or stuff packs or in some cases bundling the core game with an expansion pack have since been occasionally released every few months.

The Digital Deluxe Edition of The Sims 4 was added to the EA Play (then named Origin Access) video game subscription service in July 2017.^[106] EA Play Pro (then named Origin Access Premier) subscribers additionally received the Dine Out game pack and Kids Room Stuff stuff pack in July 2018.^[107]

In April 2019, EA announced a collaboration between the game and Italian designer Moschino. The collaboration will include a capsule collection featuring pixel art clothing inspired by the game.^[108] The collaboration coincides with the announcement of the Moschino stuff pack.

In May 2019, the game was given away to Origin users for free on Windows and macOS.^[109]

The "Sims Sessions" music festival was a limited-time event hosted from June 29 to July 7, 2021, which was accessible within a special area in the game's Willow Creek world.^[110] 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.^[110]

Ratings[]

On May 9, 2014, it was reported that The Sims 4 has been rated "18+ (prohibited for children)" by Russia. This decision was based on the game's portrayal of same-sex relationships contravening the Russian LGBT propaganda law that prohibits portrayal "of non-traditional sexual relationships" to children (see also LGBT rights in Russia).^[111][112] Previous entries in The Sims series have routinely been rated as suitable for lower ages; for instance, The Sims 3 was considered suitable for ages 6 and up in Germany, The Sims 4 is suitable for ages 6 and up in Germany as well.^[113] In Japan, The Sims 4 is rated CERO "C", ages 15 and up, the same as in South Korea. In many European countries, like Spain, the UK, France, Poland, and the Czech Republic, the game is rated PEGI 12, ages 12 and up.^{[citation needed]}

Expansions and add-ons[]

Expansion packs[]

Game packs[]

Stuff packs[]

Kits[]

Reception[]

EA did not provide review copies of the game until September 1, meaning that critics were unable to review the game before release.^[148] In the absence of initial reviews it was indicated that players were generally dissatisfied with the game, especially the ones who were familiar with the previous games in the franchise.^[149]

At the aggregator site Metacritic, The Sims 4 received a score of 70 based on 74 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reception.^[4]

Hardcore Gamer gave The Sims 4 a 2.5 score out of 5 and commented "it's a half-hearted experience wrapped in a neat and pretty package that beams a potential to both fulfill and crush your inner-Sims’ dreams." They criticized the game for the lack of content and having many bugs.^[150]

Jim Sterling of The Escapist, in a mixed review of the game, found there to be an "overall lack of engagement." Although they noted some positive changes, they were critical of the game in comparison to previous entries in the series, declaring that "The Sims 4 is basically The Sims 3, but shrunken and sterile;" they recommended that the earlier game be played instead. They also complained of being "harassed" by tutorial messages. Their final score for the game was 2.5 out of 5 stars.^[151]

ABCNews.com's reviewer Derrik J. Lang praised the game for being "remarkably more intuitive at the start," stating that the Sims are now smarter than before, have emotions that affect their moods, and are able to multi-task. Despite the praise, Lang awarded the game with two stars stating that he encountered annoying glitches and that he misses content from previous games, like dishwashers.^[152]

Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot gave this game a 6 out of 10. Despite praising the visuals, audio, and the new multi-tasking and moods system, he states that he misses the two main features of The Sims 3: "Create-a-Style" and the open world. His conclusion is: "The Sims 4's biggest problem is that The Sims 3 exists".^[153]

Other reviews were more favorable. CraveOnline.co.uk mentioned in an article that "the awful user reviews indicate a strong backlash;" however, the website added that "Sims fans who haven't paid much attention to the ongoing controversy surrounding the game may look at those Amazon review scores and, without knowing that many are immediately dismissing the game due to its cut content, decide that they won't purchase it."^[154]

Kallie Plagge of IGN gave The Sims 4 a 7.5 out of 10. She was disappointed by the lack of content from previous games, and the lack of "cool" objects that could adequately replace them; and the too frequent, albeit short, loading screens. The score she gave is relatively high, though, because "The Sims 4 does succeed in being a deep and complex game when it comes to Sim interactions, with lots of entertaining emotional potential [...] Plus, excellent building tools make architecture more fun than ever". Her conclusion is that "it's a good start to what may eventually be expanded into a great Sims game, but it's not there yet".^[155]

The Independent's Jack Fleming praised the game for "The Gallery" feature that allows users to showcase their creations easily, the new multitasking system, the visual design, the personalities and emotions, the unusual careers (that, for example, allow the sim to travel into space), and the new build mode. On the other hand, he voiced his frustration with the loading screens, the new camera controls (while noting they can be reverted to The Sims 3 style), and noted the lack of content from previous installments (such as swimming pools and toddlers) made many fans upset. In conclusion he writes: "The Sims 4 is an easy game to get into (though the constant tutorial-ising at the start can actually get a bit frustrating) and the reasons that people love this series are still present. The game's creators have tried to make the appeal as diverse as possible and have in most ways succeeded; however, I couldn't help but wish I could actually go to space and drive that spaceship around..."^[156]

Nick Tan of Game Revolution states that the game is a case study for loss aversion. He explains that the reason for Sims fans expressing so much anger and dissatisfaction with it is because people "strongly prefer avoiding losses than acquiring gains". That, combined with the hatred for Electronic Arts that greatly intensified after the release of the latest SimCity game, resulted in such a backlash. Tan gave The Sims 4 a 3.5/5, calling it "woefully incomplete, despite being unexpectedly solid and entertaining in its current state."^[157]

In 2020, Rock, Paper, Shotgun ranked The Sims 4 as the fifth best management game on the PC.^[158]

Sales and revenue[]

The Sims 4 has 36 million players worldwide across all platforms as of 2021, and has generated over $1 billion of total revenue as of 2019.^[159][160]

In 2018, EA reported that the game had 10 million players.^[161] In January 2020, the game reached 20 million players.^[162] In June 2020, it was reported that the game hit 10 million monthly active users.^[163]

Accolades[]

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• The Sims 4 at MobyGames
• The Sims 4 at Metacritic
• The Sims 4 at IMDb