The Sims 5 is the next installation in the much loved Sims series after The Sims 4 released in 2014. For many fans, The Sims 3 was a peak in the series with fantastic expansion packs, customization, and open world exploration. It can’t be denied The Sims 4 is still a good Sims game but there are definitely downfalls. The Sims 4 missed basic features in the base game like pools and toddlers though those features were added later on. Moreover, the onslaught of expansion packs with either not enough content or what people felt was carbon copied content is a pretty big disappointment.
Sims 5 will shine above the rest
We can expect to see a new game engine for The Sims 5
Personally, I am still really enjoying The Sims 4. Though I always enhance my game with mods and custom content. Bringing the base Sims 5 game up to a higher standard. Some of the top-notch quality custom content and mods the Sims community releases. Would really make The Sims 5 shine above the rest. Check out our The Sims 5 wishlist for gameplay and features.
Since the release of The Sims 4 video game. Technology has advanced and so has the hunger of video gamers. More and more is asked of developers. Especially when it comes to beloved franchises like The Sims series. The Sims 5 has to be packed with new features each time. Including fan favorite desires or fans won’t be happy. With the recent departure and dissection of the beloved Maxis Studios. Original developers of The Sims, 2, 3, and 4. The Sims 5 could end up developed by a new studio from EA.
The Sims 5 Release Date
There is no official release date for The Sims 5 yet. However, based on past years. We can estimate when it will happen. The Sims has released in 4-year intervals in previous years. But it could take longer to really make The Sims 5 a step up from The Sims 4. Right after the release of The Sims 4. Producer Grant Rodiek said on the Sims 4 forums
“We’re not working on Sims 5. We’re not thinking about Sims 5. If Sims 4 isn’t successful, there won’t be a Sims 5,”
However apparently, since then. That comment has been removed from the forums. perhaps signaling that The Sims 5 is in the works. Surely by now with the success of the Sims 4. The Sims 5 is on the horizon.
This year at E3 2018 EA Play will announce something related to the Sims franchise. The Sims Twitter referred to the EA Play event at E3 2018 as ‘our next Sims 4 experience’. So that could mean a chance to play the next Sims 4 expansion. However, it doesn’t rule out an announcement for The Sims 5. The EA Play press conference happens at 11 am PDT on Saturday, June 9, 2018. And live streams on EA’s main site and social media. EA promised the event would include gameplay reveals. Big announcements and some of the biggest content creators in gaming.
The Sims 5 Developers and Studio
Who is developing The Sims 5 is really a bit mysterious at the moment. Normally, you could assume EA Maxis. the long-time developer of The Sims series. Would be developing The Sims 5. However, that is no longer the case. In 2015, EA consolidated EA Maxis Emeryville into EA studios. Located in Salt Lake City, Helsinki, Melbourne, and Redwood Shores. Maxis Emeryville is responsible for games like Spore, Simcity, and of course The Sims. The closure of the gaming studio was certainly sad. After some EA Maxis Emeryville employees had worked there for over a decade.
However, The Sims 4 IP continued on. With expansion packs and game tweaks releasing after the consolidation. It seems the closure of EA Maxis Emeryville. was actually a step towards expanding The Sims franchise onto new platforms. As well as introducing cross-platform capability. Like the current The Sims Mobile connectivity with The Sims 4.
The Sims on Mobile
The move towards EA focusing on The Sims Mobile. Is possibly evident in further layoffs in April 2018. The Sims VIP reported a source from EA. Stating the layoffs are due to budget cuts and financial restructuring. However, other sources stated EA is restructuring towards a mobile-focused gaming structure. This is for The Sims and possibly other EA IPs.
Hey, all. Looks like my time at Maxis is up. I've enjoyed my time working on The Sims, and it's been an honor to be able to contribute to the game that you know and love. It's also been a pleasure to be able to meet and interact with so many of you.
Take care,
Daniel— Daniel H (@SimGuruDaniel) April 19, 2018
Never fear guys. I still work with the console team in fact I will be at EA Play for Console in June. It is no longer my sole focus. @SimGuruCleaning and @SimGuruLegacy are covering the day to day now but console will always be important to me 🙂
— Michael Duke (@SimGuruDuke) April 20, 2018
Fear that some The Sims veteran devs were laid off
Some of the remaining Maxis employees moved over to The Sims Mobile team. A familiar shuffle for EA. Many of the laid-off Maxis employees were longtime Sims veterans. And also highly involved in the Sims community. The Sims Community is absolutely stunned and upset about the layoffs. Some are even ready to boycott Sims mobile. In an effort to save The Sims on PC.
However, EA has made no official statements on any of these rumors or why the layoffs occurred. Further, EA and The Sims 4 are planning announcements and maybe new gameplay at EA Play 2018. Hopefully, there is more news from EA soon. With some indication of which studio could possibly develop The Sims 5.
The Sims 5 VR Capability
The Sims is ultimately all about simulation and apparently. EA and Maxis realized that in their efforts to really tune The Sims 4 emotions and similar effects. So The Sims 5 VR capability seems like a given. With games like VR Chat becoming popular. The Sims gamers love an open world feel like in The Sims 3. So The Sims 5 VR could enhance that feeling. Next-gen consoles like Xbox One X and PlayStation 5. As well as modern-day PCs. Could really bring The Sims 5 to life in virtual reality. Things don’t have to get quite as weird as Second Life. But Sims fans would love to interact with each other in-game and online. So VR could be a really good way to integrate that feature.
VR technology is still fairly new. While it improves regularly VR still has a long way to go. For now, that causes some hilarious entertainment. For example that of the VR Dating Show. However, The Sims fans like quality. So there is no point in implementing VR into The Sims 5 before its ready. EA CEO Andrew Wilson stated VR was an “unbelievable innovation”. But that it was “a couple of years before it is a mass market opportunity”. Further, in 2017 EA posted a press release on Reddit teasing. “Are you ready to live in The Sims world?” then promptly removed.
Do we really need VR in The Sims 5 though?
In the end, The Sims 5 VR would be a cool feature. But VR should be just a bit of fun. Rather than a main feature of the game. Permanent first-person in The Sims 5 might be a bit much and take away from other game features. It would certainly be detrimental to The Sims housing creators.
The Sims 5 and The Sims Mobile cross-platform features
With a possible push towards mobile-based gaming and The Sims Mobile. It’s highly likely The Sims 5 will have cross-platform features. What that means is taking your Sims with you on the go. It could also include accessing features from your PC or console Sims game on your mobile phone. These capabilities are already evident in the current Sims Mobile promotions. Where players can receive items in The Sims 4 for playing The Sims Mobile.
Admittedly, cross-platform features like that are cool and could get better with some work. But fans still don’t want to see EA shift focus towards The Sims Mobile. Rather than advancing the main IP. Playing on a phone or even a tablet will never compare to playing on PC and consoles. In addition, the computing power of PCs and consoles only keeps advancing. The Sims players know that means more of the features they hope for in the next installment.
