Home Gaming If Sims 4 isn’t successful, there may not be a Sims 5

If Sims 4 isn’t successful, there may not be a Sims 5

2 min read
84

Sadsims

The Sims 4, that oddly popular real-life simulator, was released last week. Without the years of expansions and add-ons bolted on to the previous game, many are finding it to be a bit of a shallow experience; a jarring and empty game that belies its status as a successor. The next numbered Sims game may be even more bare. Because it may not exists at all.

Maxis has warned that it’s not actively working on Sims 5 – and that if Sims 4 doesn’t perform well enough, they may never get around to making it.

Over on the Sims forums, responding to a fan who rattled off a digital list of things they’d like to see in a sequel, Sims 4 producer Grant Rodiek seems to have lost his cool a bit.

“We’re not working on Sims 5,” he replied.  “We’re not thinking about Sims 5. If Sims 4 isn’t successful, there won’t be a Sims 5.”

 

I don’t like the tone; seems like a bit of a guilt-trip to get fans to buy the new game – especially with the game already out in the wilds of piracyland. It may have had some clever ways of dealing with piracy, but the pirates are one step ahead, having circumvented Maxis’ anti-thievery blurry screen.

They rightly shouldn’t be thinking of Sims 5 at this point; not when The Sims 4 is missing all of the expansions that make The Sims fun to play. That will all be coming soon, as EA and Maxis will likely support the game for years with expensive add-on, after expensive add-on.

In truth, it’s rather unlikely that The Sims 4 will be a flop; the series is one of EA’s biggest money-spinners, and the community behind the game is one of the most staunchly fervent you’ll find in any game. The Sims 4 has indeed already soared to the top of the UK’s gaming sales charts, something that’s likely mirrored locally.

Did you buy The Sims 4? Have you moved on from a fully-fleshed out world in The Sims 3, only to be slapped in the face by how bare an experience number four is proving to be?

Last Updated: September 8, 2014

84 Comments

  1. PERSONA 5!!!! (Umar)

    September 8, 2014 at 13:06

    Watched a few vids of it, I was so surprised. It looks like the mobile version!!…Holy crap so many loading screens and no open world. Really shocked

    Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      September 8, 2014 at 13:43

      Everyone is going on and on about the loading screens. You know what? The loading screens is not that big of a deal, honestly. It takes a few seconds to load the next section you are going to and then boom, you are playing again. And I do not even have a beast of a PC to begin with.
      Having short, barely there loading screens is far better than having a 13 minute load time

      Reply

      • Johan du Preez

        September 8, 2014 at 13:46

        Alert Sims fanboy incoming ….

        Reply

        • The Adventures of JJ

          September 8, 2014 at 13:48

          Announcing yourself? A bit much hey. 😉

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 8, 2014 at 14:03

            Oh I think you should go and join the UN peace corpse with that disarming comment! Well done!

      • PERSONA 5!!!! (Umar)

        September 8, 2014 at 14:16

        From an open world game to loading screens every section seems really backwards. And having a static map ala mobile also seems like a step back, but hey I’m not a fan of Sims nor did I play the game. So your word is more plausible than mine

        Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          September 8, 2014 at 14:25

          I hear you. But to be honest, the open world and previous map kind of murdered your PC’s resources. I kid you not, I had a book with me when I loaded the Sims 3 to keep me entertained while it loaded.
          I would have preferred open world. But with that said, a lot of the time, when travelling to destinations within the world, you would sit and stare at your PC as you travelled. So there was zero interaction in anycase.
          So the trade off from open world to loading screens with better performance is a better trade if you ask me.

          Reply

          • MWD

            September 8, 2014 at 16:54

            I’d much rather wait 15 mins for the game to load if I never have to see a loading screen thereafter honestly. It may be quick and barely there but it interrupts flow and I actually enjoyed watching my sims traveling… It’s not the same if they just poof away. In the Sims 3, my family lived on the top of the hill just so I could watch them make the long journey to and from school/work everyday. It’s not just the loading though, it’s the size. Before I felt like I was part of a living, active neighborhood. Now it just feels like you’re in a tiny, secluded gathering. This game is like sims 2.5 really.

            I also never really experienced any of these slow downs in game play that ppl keep bringing up and I played sims 3 on a Mac (obviously not the best machine for gaming). But as a console gamer primarily myself, it makes me wonder where pc gaming is going if developers are limiting their products so they can run on basically anything opposed to those that are built to run it optimally

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 9, 2014 at 08:07

            This is one of those cases where we are going to have to agree to disagree! 🙂 Instead of my PC having to waste processing power having to render say, the grocer’s store which I never visited in anycase, I’d rather have it provide a smooth experience in the room I am currently in.
            One thing you have to keep in mind is not a lot of people (like myself) has PC powerhouses that can render gorgeous graphics, calculate needed AI and handle stuff like sound etc.
            The Sims have always been a game that has appealed to the more casual gamer right through to the hardcore players out there.
            I think the mandate EA gave Maxis was to develop this thing that it will run on anything built in the last 3-5 years…

          • MWD

            September 12, 2014 at 06:26

            Fair enough. It may appease everything you want or expect out of the game but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed with the product based on my preferences. To each their own and I’m glad you’re enjoying it

          • Jesse Pinkman

            January 9, 2015 at 01:01

            Too bad that the Sims 4 uses a max of 4gb of RAM

      • Melanie

        November 29, 2014 at 18:44

        I shouldn’t have to load to move between buildings in the same complex – if I go to the gym the bar and the library should all be loaded, if I want to go home then there should be a loading screen not one just to walk across the street! Unless you’re using a potato as a computer I don’t think 3 loaded buildings will make you lag that bad.

        Reply

      • Jen

        April 4, 2015 at 16:27

        the loading screens don’t take a few seconds on my PC or MAC. the open world is 10x better.

        Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    September 8, 2014 at 13:06

    The problem with buying games today.

    http://savepic.org/4279297.jpg

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      September 8, 2014 at 13:08

      hahaha I guessed it was the Mona Lisa pic before refreshing, but I didn’t know they’d updated it.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 8, 2014 at 13:09

        I was pleasantly surprised

        Reply

    • ER Bass

      September 12, 2014 at 20:32

      Yep, that pretty much explains EA with all of their games.

      Reply

    • EmaLee

      December 7, 2014 at 09:26

      lolol

      Reply

  3. Sk3tz0

    September 8, 2014 at 13:09

    I got it this Weekend.. Look pretty and all for a sims game .. But to be honest its still just nothing more than a Sims game. Only thing i thought was a ripoff is that they left out all that Customisation you could do in Sims 3 out of Sims 4.. which was rather silly. Only thing that still works since Sims 2 is the Money Cheat 😛

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 8, 2014 at 13:13

      Oh they will bring everything back, just like they did with Sims 3

      http://i.imgur.com/UVpVSSd.png

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        September 8, 2014 at 13:15

        Sad but true.

        Reply

      • The Adventures of JJ

        September 8, 2014 at 13:42

        Wow. I didn’t even know most of these existed.

        Reply

      • Aries

        September 8, 2014 at 13:46

        Thats sick and it missing the katy perry one

        Reply

        • The Adventures of JJ

          September 8, 2014 at 13:49

          No one’s missing the Kary Perry one 😀

          Reply

          • WarframedSquirrel

            September 8, 2014 at 14:36

            Especially the @Admiral_Chief:disqus

          • The Adventures of JJ

            September 8, 2014 at 14:42

            Oh yes.

          • Norm

            September 8, 2014 at 15:17

            BOOM!

      • namesib

        September 8, 2014 at 18:58

        Urgh, absolutely disgusting. Are they really surprised people pirate?

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          September 9, 2014 at 07:47

          The best part is that there are people that buy everything, I mean can they be so addicted to just one game?

          Reply

          • Eva

            November 8, 2014 at 04:54

            Excuse me but it’s the ppl that buy everything that keep the game going! Perhaps you are so busy pirating that you forget that IT COSTS MONEY TO DEVELOP A GAME!! If everyone just pirated, there would be no game.

          • Hammersteyn

            November 10, 2014 at 07:39

            I’m a console gamer, so if you know a way to pirate PS4 games please let me know.

      • Skyblue

        September 8, 2014 at 20:01

        Holy crap! Only fukken EA… and Ubisoft… and, well, just them mostly.

        Reply

  4. Rinceable

    September 8, 2014 at 13:14

    Yawn. Not interested.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 8, 2014 at 13:14

      Agreed

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      September 8, 2014 at 13:18

      YOU’RE UNINTERESTING!

      Reply

      • The Adventures of JJ

        September 8, 2014 at 13:47

        I think the creativity in your insults has reached a peak here. ;P

        Reply

        • ToshZA

          September 8, 2014 at 13:49

          That was an insult? How can you tell? 😛

          Reply

          • The Adventures of JJ

            September 8, 2014 at 13:55

            Hehe
            I’m going on the fact that most of what The Emperor says usually has some underlying insult in it.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 8, 2014 at 13:59

            LOL! At least sometimes I do people the courtesy of trying to hide it.

        • Rinceable

          September 8, 2014 at 14:02

          Haha

          Reply

      • Rinceable

        September 8, 2014 at 14:03

        Your face is uninteresting! You SIM!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 8, 2014 at 14:07

          And that’s why I didn’t waste time with creativity @johnambitious:disqus

          Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          September 8, 2014 at 14:08

          Oh. at least @disqus_DoEH3TsffU:disqus is not a Ginger! 😛

          Reply

          • Rinceable

            September 8, 2014 at 14:31

            And at least he isn’t a troll!

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 8, 2014 at 14:36

            That hurts my feelings…

          • Rinceable

            September 8, 2014 at 14:40

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 8, 2014 at 14:49

            I try SO hard to change people’s perception of me. I want people to think of nice things when they see/think Dutch Matrix. I want them to think kittens and puppies and unicorns and rainbows.
            And then you come and call me a troll.
            Thanks. I see I have a lot of work still left ahead of me…

          • Rinceable

            September 8, 2014 at 14:51

            Lucky I am a soulless ginger, I might have felt a tang of regret. Apparently NOT! Bwahahah

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 8, 2014 at 14:57

            Despite that, Rince, I still love you…

    • FoxOneZA

      September 8, 2014 at 13:51

      But it’s a lot like Destiny, without guns, planets and coolness /troll 😛

      Reply

    • Skyblue

      September 8, 2014 at 20:02

      Agreed, the Sims is not a game.

      Reply

  5. Kensei Seraph

    September 8, 2014 at 13:14

    I have been working on my prophetic powers for most of my life and I can honestly say that there will be a Sims 5.

    Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 8, 2014 at 13:15

    You whiny entitled gamers, wanting your “game” and play it. You don’t get a say, you must take what we give you and be happy or else we’ll take it away! It’ll be all your fault.

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      September 8, 2014 at 13:48

      Sounds Phishy.

      Reply

    • ER Bass

      September 12, 2014 at 20:36

      LOL!

      This article makes EA sound like the abusive bf/husband of gaming companies: “You MADE me do this to you, skank! HOW dare you demand better quality games! What?! I’m not good enough for you!?!?”

      Reply

  7. Kensei Seraph

    September 8, 2014 at 13:18

    I’ll get it eventually when it goes on special, but I’ll get it for the modding possibilities not for the actual game itself.

    Reply

  8. Harry Beneke

    September 8, 2014 at 13:26

    If They want The Sims 4 to be successful, they will have to fix everything that’s wrong with it. Previously you could build pools and so on, now they say its more difficult than just building a pool. oh Please!!!!!!

    Reply

  9. Gerhard Davids

    September 8, 2014 at 13:26

    Managed to buy it yesterday. As expected origin was a balls up. Had to sit with EA support to get it sorted. Thanks goodness support was very helpful.

    On the game. It’s very obvious that this game is geared for DLC after DLC. Removing basic components claiming the new engine is to blame only to state that you won’t continue the franchise under some condition throws your new engine into question and the motives become clear. It is a disgusting business practice that will come back to bite them in the arse. Even if it does take longer to implode than it Zynga counterparts.

    Reply

    • alcatraz5953

      September 8, 2014 at 15:13

      I can honestly say I haven’t had one single problem with Origin to date, so I cant really see where everybody’s hatred towards it is coming from. I for one actually find it to be an exceptionally good way to manage my games, would choose is 100 times over Uplay and Steam

      Reply

  10. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    September 8, 2014 at 13:30

    lol! Sounds like a threat! BUY THIS ONE OR NO MORE!

    I have only heard bad things =/ Sad. Just like SimCity it has insane amounts of potential, but then it does it have a very serious case of EAIDS

    Reply

  11. The Adventures of JJ

    September 8, 2014 at 13:38

    If Sims 4 isn’t successful, it’s probably because EA sucked the life out of it for having people pay for every single little thing.

    Reply

  12. Johan du Preez

    September 8, 2014 at 13:41

    Thank god hope it fails

    Reply

    • Kim Michelle Roberts

      September 8, 2014 at 17:11

      you no more sims game do care

      Reply

      • Johan du Preez

        September 9, 2014 at 19:25

        HUH ? do you speak english ?

        Reply

  13. Ryanza

    September 8, 2014 at 14:59

    The reason why Maxis is not working on Sims 5 is because they are going to spend a few years with expansion packs.

    Sims 1 with all the expansion packs made for it. The Sims 2 should have included all the expansion packs that Sims 1 had and then they could work on new expansion packs. That seems fair and would have created a good release day product. Sims 3 should have included all the expansion packs since Sims 1 and then new expansion packs could have been created.

    So now we at a stage of Sims 4 being released. Sims 4 doesn’t have all the expansion packs from Sims 3, Sims 2, Sims 1, and even some features has been taken away. So if Sims 4 fails it’s because of that. People will feel like they not getting the best out of the game on release day and will wait a year or two till all the expansion packs are released and then see the game as being to damn expensive for all the shit that should have been included in the day 1 release copy.

    Plus the game has EA’s Origin DRM. So it should fail.

    Don’t support DRM.

    Reply

  14. alcatraz5953

    September 8, 2014 at 15:10

    All in all TS4 is massively better than TS3, with the exceptions of the lack of items and the most ridiculous movement system on the planet. But the TS3 base game was also fairly dull and pretty devoid of build/buy items though (not as bad but still…) I think we can expect a lot of store items, hopefully a lot of free to download items. And once the expansions and stuff packs start rolling out I think we can expect a well rounded game with plenty of build/buy items.

    Reply

  15. MakeItLegal

    September 8, 2014 at 15:11

    i for 1 , hope to a “god” that it doesnt happen , let them learn that bare bone releases will flop …DLC u say ? after buying bf 4 premium i will never buy a ea expansion of any sorts ! consumer must vote !

    Reply

    • alcatraz5953

      September 8, 2014 at 15:21

      Yeah BF4 premium did bend us over a bit hey, no lube used either

      Reply

      • MakeItLegal

        September 8, 2014 at 16:23

        I am still very sensitive about it all

        Haven’t played bf 4 since

        Reply

        • Skoobaz

          September 9, 2014 at 11:08

          What was the issue with BF4 premium? I obviously missed it but my understanding was all extra content would be for free with premium.

          Reply

          • MakeItLegal

            September 9, 2014 at 13:10

            i ve played 160 hrs vanilla BF 4 , lesss than 15hrs of any of the expansion stuff….due to lack of severs….

          • Skoobaz

            September 9, 2014 at 15:04

            SO all the expansion stuff was tied to running on servers then. And SA didn’t get servers.Di you buy this online or disc in shop?

  16. Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora

    September 8, 2014 at 15:28

    Wait wait wait… If it isn’t successful there won’t be a next one??? So they don’t put in pools? Something that’s been around forever and could alienate customers?
    http://community.boredofstudies.org/attachments/2/school-secondary-education/29552d1388308883-why-have-you-had-detention-pouwya.jpg

    Reply

  17. Peter Pan

    September 9, 2014 at 09:40

    I shall be waiting for the first expansion before I dive back in!

    Reply

  18. TriangularRoom

    September 9, 2014 at 12:26

    I must admit, there was the initial shock of playing an expansion-less game, but as I’ve played more it’s starting to feel like there’s more to the Sims 4 base game than I thought. I’m certainly glad to be moving on from the endless load times and choppy gameplay of Sims 3.

    Reply

  19. Lizzard

    September 9, 2014 at 12:48

    I like the new sims 4… I just wonder sometimes if EA hasn’t done too much damage with their previous broken games. Would be curious to see what they sales figures look.

    Reply

  20. ER Bass

    September 12, 2014 at 20:28

    “We gave you a sh**ty product. It’s everything you never asked for! If you don’t buy it–then we’ll stop making more!”

    Who makes a threat like that?

    Reply

  21. imabhisheksaini

    September 19, 2014 at 13:01

    But I am waiting for SIMS 5. i even see a blog http://sims5game.com/ which is sharing info about the next game. I am a huge fans of this series and look forward to the next part.

    Reply

  22. EmaLee

    December 7, 2014 at 09:33

    i like how sims has been around forever, but in 2014 when
    gaming keeps getting better/ more realistic they hash out this new
    version that looks a little prettier but is missing vital features that
    even the FIRST one had.
    i’m surprised they actually released this as is and expected it to do as well as the others. they totally half-assed this one.

    Reply

  23. leosapiens

    January 1, 2015 at 12:19

    Bought it and returned it a day after. Can’t bear the loading screens between lots, too annoying to play. Went back to Sims 3.

    Reply

  24. No More

    January 9, 2015 at 02:22

    AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

    EA Not making Games would be a GOD SEND!!! PLEASE PLEASE Make this happen.

    EA You churn out SHIT games, then TANTRUM like a fucken two year crying.

    “If you don’t buy our ‘we know it’s shit but we’re money hungry PIGS, so we push it out anyway ignoring the player base cause we see them as cash cows to us’ games then we won’t make anymore”

    Do you HONESTLY have ANY IDEA how much of a good thing that would be?

    Credit is where credit is due.

    Hello Games be praised,
    Indie developers be praised, Rockstar with Red Dead Redemption be praised, MSDos Quality games be praised, Oldschool Rareware (not who they are today) be praised, Playstation giving Indie developers a chance be praised & the reveal standing against the bullshit of MS at E3 be praised, Nintendo with still keeping the child like spirit inside of us alive be praised, to Every gamer who takes a stand & says no by not buying into a Corporate developer who tries to pull the wool over your eyes, while you see other gamers suckering in while you are making a sacrafice by not playing to take a stand BE PRAISED, to those who deserve it be praised, to those that don’t go to the firey lake of brimstone.

    EA You tear apart Gaming IPs, crap on the player and effect the very people working for you. You leave nothing but destruction in your wake. I as a Gamer, a person who stands & speaks with my wallet for myself and to those who feel the same way.

    EA You are the worst Gaming Corporation in the history of gaming. It is better that you do not make any more games ever, Sims included, nothing is better then what you have to sell. EA Leave.

    I say this with all my heart.

    Reply

  25. 141

    January 9, 2015 at 06:08

    It’s had it’s day. Let it go, let it gooooo.

    In all seriousness.

    FUCK OFF EA!

    Reply

  26. Jen

    April 4, 2015 at 16:37

    People keep saying they will release expansion packs with everything we want, but the Sims 3 base game consisted of SO MUCH. After a while, sure, you wanted more, but to be honest that was just greed. The Sims 3 base game had 5 times more than the Sims 4 base game + Sims 4 expansion packs. The newest Sims 4 expansion pack “Get to Work,” STILL lacks. It’s an awesome concept that was missed from the Sims 2 Open for Business, but it’s still empty. Maxis is either greedy af, or they don’t give a damn about the game.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

FIFA and EA Split? How Did it Happen and What Now for the Future of the Franchise?

In life, there are many staples, peanut butter and jam, bread and a toaster, and in gaming…