The Sims 4 is a social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in North America on September 2, 2014, for Windows; a macOS version was released in February 2015, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in November 2017. It is the fourth major title in The Sims series, following The Sims 3 (2009). The game was moved to a free-to-play model on October 18, 2022, monetized by the purchase of various paid downloadable content packs that have been developed since its release.
Like previous titles in the series, The Sims 4 allows players to create and dress characters called "Sims", build and furnish houses for them, and simulate their everyday lives. The game introduces a newly developed custom game engine, with improved character creation and housebuilding tools, as well as deeper in-game simulation with the new emotion and personality systems for Sims.
Development of The Sims 4 began as an online-focused title, but plans were shifted to a single-player experience following the negative launch reception of Maxis' SimCity in 2013. In the months leading up to the game's release, Maxis revealed that several features present in prior The Sims main titles would be omitted at launch, citing insufficient development time and technical complexity. The Sims 4 received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release, who praised the game's visual design, improved AI simulation for Sims, and the simplified building tools, but criticized the lack of content compared to prior The Sims titles, frequent loading screens, glitches, and missing features.
The Sims 4 is commercially successful, topping the all-format video game chart in 2014, and has received over 85 million players worldwide, as of 2024. Development of the game has been supported with numerous paid downloadable content packs, namely sixteen expansion packs, twelve game packs, and several stuff packs and kits; expansion packs are the largest content packs. The most recent expansion pack, The Sims 4: Lovestruck, was released on July 25, 2024. Free content updates introducing and expanding major features have also been released, such as swimming pools, more character customization options, more building tools, greater representation of gender identities and sexual orientations, and gameplay scenarios. A new multiplayer-focused The Sims title, under the working title "Project Rene", is in development as of 2024.
Gameplay
The Sims 4 is a social simulation game, like preceding titles in The Sims series. The game is open-ended, with no primary objectives to achieve, or storyline to complete, and instead encourages gameplay through experimentation or creativity.[2][3] The focus of the game is on the simulated lives of virtual people called "Sims", and the player is responsible for directing their actions, attending to their "needs", and helping them attain their desires.[4][3] Objective-based gameplay is also available for the player to participate in if desired, with each Sim having a lifelong aspiration, and "wants and fears" personal goals that are generated based on current gameplay.[5][3]
Simoleons (§) are the unit of currency used in the game, and Sims communicate in a fictional language called Simlish.[6] Sims have six needs: hunger, bladder, hygiene, social, fun, and energy.[3] These needs are drained as the Sim progresses through an in-game day, and are refilled by various household items and furniture.[7] Sims primarily make money by getting a job, and Sims need to develop skills for jobs; for example, Sims in the Culinary career track need to be proficient in the Cooking and Mixology skills.[8] The game includes a comprehensive list of cheats, such as infinite money and hidden gameplay options.[9][10]
Paid downloadable content (DLC) packs expand the number of features, objects, worlds, and gameplay options available to play with.[11] Additionally, the macOS and Windows versions of The Sims 4 include extensive modding support, as in previous mainline The Sims games. For example, custom content, a popular form of modded content, encompasses fan-designed cosmetic items such as hairstyles, makeup, clothing, and furniture.[12][13][14][15]
Create-a-Sim
Create-a-Sim is the main interface for creating a Sim in The Sims 4, where individual Sims and families can be created and placed in the game world. Sim facial and bodily features are adjusted by directly selecting and manipulating the respective area.[16][17] Sims have eight life stages: newborn, infant, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder.[18] All life stages can be created in Create-a-Sim, with the exception of the newborn and infant life stages. Toddlers were absent from the original game release but were added via an update in 2017.[19] The newborn and infant life stages were introduced to the game in a 2023 update, and replace the baby life stage.[20][21]
Each Sim has three personality traits, and an aspiration containing its own special trait.[22][23] Traits determine the personality of a Sim, and significantly affect a Sim's behavior and emotions. Aspirations are lifelong goals for Sims, each containing a list of tasks to be fulfilled in gameplay; Sims get a reward trait when completing an aspiration, which give them a boost when performing actions relevant to the aspiration.[23] The "Play with Genetics" function allows players to create siblings, children, and parents of household Sims, inheriting facial features, and physical traits such as skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors from the selected household Sims.[24] Added in a 2021 update, "likes and dislikes" determine aesthetics and activities preferred by each Sim, and can be assigned in Create-a-Sim or developed in gameplay.[25][26]
Occult Sims are introduced in various expansion packs and game packs. These occults include aliens, vampires,[27]mermaids,[28]spellcasters,[29] and werewolves.[30]Cat and dog pets are introduced via the Cats & Dogs expansion pack, and can be created in the "Create-a-Pet" mode within Create-a-Sim, or adopted during gameplay.[31] Gender options for Sims were expanded in a 2016 update, allowing for greater freedom of gender expression — with this update, hairstyles and outfits can be worn by any Sim of any gender, and pregnancy is now possible regardless of gender.[32][33] The diversity of skin tones in the game was greatly expanded in a 2020 update, following strong player demand;[34][35][36] skin tones were divided into warm, neutral, and cold tones, and the ability to adjust the saturation and opacity of skin tones and makeup colors was introduced.[37][38]
Preferred pronoun options for Sims were added in a 2022 update, developed in collaboration with the It Gets Better Project and GLAAD; Sims can have preset pronouns, such as he/him, she/her, or they/them, or players can customize their own set of pronouns for their Sims.[39][40] Another 2022 update added the ability to select a Sim's sexuality, as well as their means of expressing attraction, either romantically or sexually. The update also enables a Sim to be sexually fluid, with changes in orientation possible during gameplay.[41][42]
Build mode
Build mode is the main interface for constructing and furnishing houses and lots in The Sims 4. Players can construct buildings and design interior layouts from scratch, and save their custom buildings or lots into the in-game library.[22][43] Rooms are constructed by drawing walls into a shape, or by simply placing a specific-shaped room down.[44] A new feature introduced in The Sims 4, is the ability to resize, move and duplicate entire rooms and buildings, along with all objects placed within the room or building.[45][46] Alternatively, selections of pre-made furnished rooms and buildings are available.[43] All lots in the world map can be customized by the player.[47]
Bodies of water can be constructed, such as fountains, swimming pools,[48] and ponds.[49] Interior construction options include doors, archways, half-walls, stairs, and wall and floor coverings.[50] When constructing a building, buildings can have multiple floors, and compared to previous The Sims titles, walls of a building floor can have three different heights, buildings foundations with adjustable heights can be added, and doors and windows can be placed anywhere along a wall.[51][52] To furnish a home, players purchase furniture and appliances in Build mode for Sims, such as televisions, chairs, showers, beds, and fridges, with each object having a set function, ranging from fulfilling a need, raising a skill, or simply being decorative.[53] Some locked or hidden items may be unlocked through the progression of career levels or cheats.[54][55]
Worlds
A world is a collection of several neighborhoods, each containing several residential or community lots available for players to customize and build upon.[56] Sims can visit any lot located in any world, regardless of which world they reside in, and Sims from other households can be seen as non-player characters roaming within worlds.[56] Unlike its predecessor The Sims 3, The Sims 4 does not support open worlds, and traveling between lots and worlds triggers a loading screen; however, neighborhoods allow some open world functionality by allowing Sims to interact with gameplay objects and Sims within the neighborhood's boundaries.[57]
The Sims 4 includes three worlds in its base game: Willow Creek and Oasis Springs contain pre-made houses, community lots, and families; added in a 2015 update, Newcrest is a sandbox world only containing blank lots free for players to build upon.[56][58] Additional worlds are included in the game's expansion packs and "game packs", with the added world usually being a core feature of the pack. These worlds frequently borrow inspirations from real-life locations; for example, Island Living introduces a tropical world named Sulani, Jungle Adventure introduces a Latin American–inspired vacation world named Selvadorada, Snowy Escape introduces a mountainous Japan-inspired world named Mt. Komorebi, and Cottage Living includes a rural England-inspired world named Henford-on-Bagley.[11][59]
New gameplay features
The Gallery is an in-game online content exchange that allows players to upload, share, and download custom-made Sims, Sim households, rooms, and buildings.[60] Emotion is a new gameplay mechanic, building upon the mood system of Sims in previous titles; emotions can be affected by in-game actions, events, and social interactions with other Sims.[61][62] Positive and negative moodlets (a type of buff) influence the current emotion of a Sim, and can directly impact Sim actions and behavior, such as increasing the efficiency of gaining skill points.[63][64] There are several types and intensities of emotions, such as happy, sad, and angry.[46][64] The multitasking system is a new gameplay mechanic allowing Sims to perform multiple actions at a single time, such as having a conversation with other Sims while cooking.[63][65][66]
Development
Maxis intended to incorporate online gameplay elements in The Sims 4, as part of publisher Electronic Arts' (EA) commitment to releasing titles with online capabilities.[67][68] EA labels president Frank Gibeau stated in 2012, "I have not green-lit one game to be developed as a single player experience. Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365."[68] These plans were later changed following the negative launch reception of Maxis' SimCity in March 2013, which was plagued with widespread technical and gameplay problems relating to the game's mandatory network connectivity.[69][70][71] The failure of SimCity led to the closure of its developer, Maxis Emeryville.[72][73] Maxis confirmed in 2013 that The Sims 4 would be a single-player and offline experience.[74][75] Additionally, development of The Sims 4 was affected by layoffs at EA Salt Lake in January 2014, which was assisting in development of the game; remaining EA Salt Lake employees working on the game were transferred to Maxis' studio in Redwood Shores, California.[76][77]
The Sims 4 uses a newly developed proprietary game engine, marketed as "SmartSim".[78] In conjunction with this engine, Maxis focused on developing the new Sim emotion system for The Sims 4, as well as more expressive and complex Sim animations, and described Sim behavior in previous The Sims titles as "robotic" in comparison.[62] Development of walking animations and facial expressions centered around better illustrating the emotions of Sims in gameplay, as well as making social interactions between Sims appear more natural and lifelike.[63]
British neoclassical composer Ilan Eshkeri composed the game's orchestral soundtrack.[62] This included over 140 brief sound effects to accompany various "key emotional moments" for Sims, such as encountering a fight, a first kiss, a wedding, or a toilet breaking. Compared to previous The Sims titles, The Sims 4's soundtrack was designed to emphasize the impact of Sim emotions during these gameplay events.[62] Eshkeri cited difficulty in composing music for the game due to its sandbox nature, contrasting it to his previous works with film scores. All music was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London, and performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.[62]
Release and marketing
On May 6, 2013, Maxis confirmed that The Sims 4 was in development, and would be scheduled for release in 2014.[79]The Sims 4 was unveiled via gameplay demos and release trailers in August 2013 at Gamescom.[80] Several trailers were released on YouTube in May 2014; a Create-a-Sim trailer revealed the variety of Sim customization options;[81] a Build mode trailer showcased the new interface and building tools.[82][83] Game footage was shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on June 9, 2014, and international release dates for the game's release on Windows in September 2014 were announced: September 2 in North America, September 4 in Australia and Europe, and September 5 in the UK.[84][83] A free playable demo of the Create-a-Sim feature was made available for download on August 12, 2014.[81][85]
A macOS version of the game was released on February 17, 2015.[86]PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released on November 17, 2017, co-developed with Blind Squirrel Games; in contrast to previous The Sims entries on consoles, the console versions of The Sims 4 are direct ports of the macOS and Windows versions, and are compatible with the same DLC packs.[87][88]
Collaborative promotions
A Sims-themed gaming headset, mouse, and "Plumbob" USB light designed by SteelSeries were released alongside the game's launch in 2014, with the peripherals having built-in LED lights that change according to the playable Sim's mood.[89] Maxis announced a collaboration in 2019 with Italian luxury fashion house Moschino; the collaboration includes a collection of pixel art clothing inspired by the franchise, and a Moschino-themed stuff pack titled Moschino Stuff.[90][91] A reality competition TV series, The Sims Spark'd, premiered on TBS from July 17, 2020, to August 7, 2020, featuring twelve contestants from popular YouTube channels in the Sims fan community; contestants were tasked with gameplay challenges within The Sims 4, and to create characters and stories following the challenge's themes and limitations.[92][93] The "Sims Sessions" in-game music festival was a limited-time event hosted from June 29, 2021, to July 7, 2021, and was accessible within a special area in the game world.[94][95] 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.[94][95]
Reception
Missing features controversy
In the months leading up to the game's release in September 2014, Maxis revealed that several key gameplay features present in previous The Sims titles, such as swimming pools and the toddler Sim life stage, would not be included in The Sims 4.[96][97] Some gameplay technologies introduced in The Sims 3, notably the open worlds and the "Create-a-Style" color customization feature, were also excluded from the game.[98] These announcements sparked criticism among players, and created a petition on the Change.org website in response.[96][99][97] Maxis issued a statement in response to player criticism, specifying that they had to allocate development resources to the newly developed game engine, technologies, AI simulation system, as well as the revamped Create-a-Sim and Build modes, as reason for the omitted features. They contended that "it was not possible for us to include every single feature and piece of content we added to The Sims 3 over the last five years", but clarified excluded features could be re-introduced in the future via game updates or DLC.[99][96][97]
The Sims 4 received "mixed or average" reviews from critics upon its release, according to review aggregator site Metacritic.[100] Reviewers frequently criticized The Sims 4's missing gameplay features and content compared to previous titles, particularly The Sims 3's "Create-a-Style" color customization tool, open worlds, and gameplay elements from its expansion packs;[98][104] reviewers also noted encountering frequent loading screens and occasional glitches.[110] The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game, released in 2017, received additional criticism for its controller-based game controls,[101][102] as well as various bugs, glitches, and performance issues.[111][112]
Jim Sterling of The Escapist described the gameplay as "boring", and The Sims 4 as "shrunken and sterile".[113] Kallie Plagge of IGN was disappointed by the lack of "cool objects" in place of missing content, and noted a lack of furnishing options in Build mode compared to The Sims 3.[106] Nick Tan of GameRevolution describes the game as a "case study for loss aversion", noting frustration among Sims fans due to the missing features and content, concluding that the game is "woefully incomplete".[103] Steve Hogarty of PCGamesN described the base game as "feature-light and skeletal" without any DLC packs.[46] Reviewers speculated that the significant lack of content was in lieu of features for potential future paid DLC packs, and is an intentional financial decision by EA.[106][109][113] Lee Cooper of Hardcore Gamer concluded that the game is "a glorified freemium app with multiple expansions on the horizon that should have been part of the core-game."[105] Griffin McElroy of Polygon summarized the game's overall lack of content as: "In one in-game lifetime, I felt like I'd seen everything there was to offer, killing any desire I had to start over."[65]
On the positive end, reviewers praised the game's improved graphical quality, intuitive Build mode and Create-a-Sim tools, the Sim emotion and multitasking systems in gameplay, and the Gallery feature.[104][110][114] Plagge of IGN commended that she did not need to micro-manage Sims' interactions with the multitasking system.[106] Cooper of Hardcore Gamer described the new Create-a-Sim as a "veritable hodgepodge of options", despite the omission of Create-a-Style.[105] VanOrd of GameSpot praised the visual and audio design, and expressed the combination of the emotion and multitasking systems as a "sheer delight".[104] Tan of GameRevolution lauded the "unbelievable" animation quality, intuitive game interface, and better performance and stability compared to previous The Sims titles.[103] Chris Thursten of PC Gamer highlighted the ability to download lookalike Sims of real-life celebrities via the Gallery, and noted that the emotion system "changes the feel and flow of the game".[109] Alexander Sliwinski from Joystiq commended the new search function in Build mode.[108] Hogarty of PCGamesN highlighted the game's "clean sheet" stability and greater simulation depth of individual Sims compared to The Sims 3.[46]
Player count and sales
The Sims 4 has received over 85 million players worldwide across all platforms as of May 2024, according to EA.[115][116] This includes 31 million players gained since the game went free-to-play in October 2022.[117] EA also reported in 2019 that the game had generated over $1 billion of total revenue, including DLC pack sales.[118] Following its first week after its release in 2014, The Sims 4 topped the Ukie all-format video game chart, and was the first PC-only game to do so since Guild Wars 2 (2012).[119][120] EA reported in 2018 that all expansion packs combined had sold over 30 million units.[121]
Post-release
In response to players' complaints about missing features, Maxis pledged to support the game with free content and feature updates.[122] This includes features from past The Sims main titles that were excluded at launch such as swimming pools,[48][122]genealogy, toddler Sim life stage,[123] and basements. Other major features added in updates include an additional sandbox world,[58] gender and pronoun customization in Create-a-Sim,[33][39] gameplay scenarios,[124] terrain manipulation tools,[125] "Neighborhood Stories" gameplay storytelling system,[126] a "wants and fears" goal system,[5] newborn and infant Sim life stages,[21] and polyamory.[127] It was noted by some reviewers that some features added in free updates required DLC packs, such as newborns and infants in Growing Together, to be fully fleshed out.[128][107] Content and feature updates continue to be developed for the game, as of 2024.
EA affirmed their commitment to long-term support of the game in 2021, citing a "shift across the entire games industry to support and nurture our communities long-term".[129] In IGN's re-evaluation of the game in 2024, Sarah Thwaites praised The Sims 4 as "maintaining the bar for life simulators", and highlighted the game's strong community support.[107] In an October 2022 livestream, Maxis announced a partnership with mod distribution platform CurseForge to provide an official distribution method for The Sims 4 mods and custom content.[130][131] Following growing criticism of bugs and instability in the game, Maxis "assembled a team" in 2024 to focus on more frequent bug fix updates, as well as better performance.[132][133][134]
EA announced in September 2022 that The Sims 4 base game would become free-to-play on all platforms, starting from October 18, 2022.[135][136] This makes The Sims 4 the fourth free-to-play entry in the series, following The Sims Social, The Sims FreePlay, and The Sims Mobile.[136] For a limited time, existing players who had previously purchased the game were entitled to a free copy of the Desert Luxe Kit, a DLC pack containing a small variety of furniture and Build mode items.[135]
Maxis also revealed in the October 2022 livestream that a new title in The Sims series is in development, under the working title of "Project Rene", and showed footage of potential game functions, such as co-op multiplayer in Build mode and cross-compatibility with desktop and mobile platforms.[137][138][139] Multiplayer is expected to be a core feature of the game.[140][141] "Project Rene" will be a free-to-play title, and is not intended to be a direct successor to The Sims 4.[139][140][142]
Paid DLC packs for The Sims 4 have been released since 2015 — there are four categories of DLC packs: "expansion packs", "game packs", "stuff packs", and "kits".[143] Expansion packs are the largest content packs, primarily focusing on major new features relevant to a theme. Game packs are similar to expansion packs, but include a smaller amount of content. Stuff packs are minor DLC packs only containing a small number of furniture and clothing items. Kits are the smallest DLC packs, with each kit exclusively focusing on either furniture or clothing items. According to Metacritic, reviews for expansion packs and game packs have received "generally favorable" to "mixed or average" reception.[144]
Introduces clubs with customizable rules and activities, a European-inspired world to explore, and community events for Sims to attend.[146] New world: Windenburg
Offers high-rise apartment living in a diverse, bustling city with vibrant festivals.[147] New world: San Myshuno
Cats & Dogs
PC:
WW: November 10, 2017
Console:
WW: July 31, 2018
Integrates cats and dogs into Sims' lives, with the option to pursue a veterinarian career.[148] New world: Brindleton Bay
Seasons
PC:
WW: June 22, 2018
Console:
WW: November 13, 2018
Introduces seasons and weather effects like rain and snow, and seasonal holidays.[149]
Get Famous
PC:
WW: November 16, 2018
Console:
WW: February 12, 2019
Provides options for Sims to pursue acting careers, become social media stars, and experience the celebrity lifestyle.[150] New world: Del Sol Valley
Island Living
PC:
WW: June 21, 2019
Console:
WW: July 16, 2019
Allows Sims to live off-the-grid in a tropical world, featuring island life elements and environmental considerations.[151] New world: Sulani
Discover University
PC:
WW: November 15, 2019
Console:
WW: December 17, 2019
Enables Sims to attend college, choose their major, experience campus life, and earn degrees that impact their careers.[152] New world: Britechester
Eco Lifestyle
WW: June 5, 2020
Encourages sustainable living through crafting eco-friendly items and influencing the environmental state of the neighborhood.[153] New world: Evergreen Harbor
Snowy Escape
WW: November 13, 2020
Offers winter sports activities in a new Japan-inspired world, allowing Sims to explore the local culture.[154] New world: Mt. Komorebi
Cottage Living
WW: July 22, 2021
Introduces a simpler lifestyle in the countryside, with opportunities for Sims to grow food, raise farm animals, and participate in village activities.[155] New world: Henford-on-Bagley
High School Years
WW: July 28, 2022
Focuses on the teenage experiences of high school, including after-school activities, teen romance, and emotional complexities.[156] New world: Copperdale
Growing Together
WW: March 16, 2023
Focuses on family dynamics, rearing children, multi-generational gameplay, and expands gameplay options for the new infant Sim life stage.[157] New world: San Sequoia
Horse Ranch
WW: July 20, 2023
Introduces horses as pets or companions, with gameplay around horse care, riding, and competitions, in a Southwestern United States-based world.[158] New world: Chestnut Ridge
For Rent
WW: December 7, 2023
Introduces a rental housing system, allowing Sims to manage rental properties or rent homes, in a Southeast Asian-inspired world.[159] New world: Tomarang
Lovestruck
WW: July 25, 2024
Focuses on romantic relationships, with new social interactions and date activities, in a Mexico City-inspired world.[160] New world: Ciudad Enamorada
Provides opportunities for Sims to explore wilderness areas, go camping, hike, and connect with nature, in a new rustic world.[161][162] New world: Granite Falls
Spa Day
PC:
WW: July 14, 2015
Console:
WW: April 18, 2019
Offers a luxurious spa experience for Sims, with treatments focused on well-being.[161][162]
Dine Out
PC:
WW: June 7, 2016
Console:
WW: January 8, 2018
Allows Sims to own and manage restaurants, experience various new foods, and enjoy dining out.[161][162]
Vampires
PC:
WW: January 24, 2017
Console:
WW: November 14, 2017
Introduces the option for Sims to become vampires and develop supernatural abilities.[161][162] New world: Forgotten Hollow
Parenthood
PC:
WW: May 30, 2017
Console:
WW: June 19, 2018
Expands on the experience of raising a family, offering new gameplay features for different life stages, and additional challenges of parenting.[161][162]
Jungle Adventure
PC:
WW: February 27, 2018
Console:
WW: December 4, 2018
Explore ruins, uncover artifacts, and encounter challenges in a Latin American-inspired jungle world. Learn about local cultures and collect unique ingredients.[161][162] New world: Selvadorada
StrangerVille
PC:
WW: February 26, 2019
Console:
WW: May 14, 2019
Presents a new town with a mystery-themed campaign, with an unlockable military career path and the chance to solve the town's secrets.[161][162] New world: StrangerVille
Realm of Magic
PC:
WW: September 10, 2019
Console:
WW: October 15, 2019
Allows Sims to become spellcasters, learn spells, brew potions, and live in a world filled with magic.[161][162] New world: Glimmerbrook
Star Wars: Journey to Batuu
WW: September 8, 2020
Visit Batuu, a Star Wars-themed world. Complete a campaign, and unlock items from the franchise. Notable Star Wars characters such as Rey and Kylo Ren are included.[161][163] New world: Batuu
Dream Home Decorator
WW: June 1, 2021
Introduces an interior design career, allowing Sims to renovate and style homes with new furniture and design options.[161]
My Wedding Stories
WW: February 23, 2022
Introduces wedding planning gameplay, including customizing details, choose traditions, hire vendors, and experience potential mishaps.[161][164] New world: Tartosa
Werewolves
WW: June 16, 2022
Allows Sims to transform into werewolves, explore werewolf lore, join packs, and experience wild aspects of their nature.[161][30] New world: Moonwood Mill
Criticism
Star Wars: Journey to Batuu, the ninth game pack for The Sims 4, was announced on August 27, 2020. The pack announcement was received negatively by players, who felt it de-prioritized community-requested features and content for the game, with some speculating it was a contractual obligation given EA's ownership of the Star Wars video game franchise.[163][165] Prior to the pack's announcement, an independent poll by Digital Spy asked players what themes they would like to see in future The Sims 4 content packs; Star Wars came in last out of twenty-one possible choices.[166] In response to the negative player reception, Maxis announced development updates on selected community-requested features and upcoming content, defending that they were not affected by the development of the pack, but cited issues during development with "foundational technology" when developing these features.[163]
My Wedding Stories, the eleventh game pack for The Sims 4, was announced on February 8, 2022. The day after the pack announcement, Maxis stated that they would not release the pack in Russia, citing video game laws prohibiting content promoting homosexuality as a societal norm.[167][168] After strong backlash and feedback from Russian players, Maxis reversed their decision and released the pack in Russia, unaltered and unchanged, citing that they "reassessed their options".[169][170] However, since March 4, 2022, EA has suspended all video game sales in Russia due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.[171][172] After My Wedding Stories's release on February 23, 2022, it received additional criticism from players and reviewers for its numerous bugs and glitches, including significant glitches rendering the game's headline wedding event feature unplayable.[173][174] The pack received an aggregate critic score of 62% on Metacritic, the lowest for a The Sims 4 game pack to date.[175] Maxis later released an update to address some of these glitches on March 31, 2022.[176][174]
^ abcCooper, Lee (September 3, 2014). "Review: The Sims 4". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.