Review embargoes are sometimes a good indication about whether a studio is confident in the quality of their game or not. Most of the time when a game is embargoed until after release, it’s not a good sign. Call of Duty on the Vita is one of the best example of this, and now Sims 4 could join that growing list.
The Sims 4 is coming out next month, but we won’t be able to tell you whether it’s any better than SimCity at launch or not. That’s because EA isn’t sending out reviews to press until after launch. No early access, no warning if the game is an absolute mess at launch.
That’s according to IGN Reviews Editor Dan Stapleton, who revealed the embargo via Twitter.
Looks like there’ll be no The Sims 4 reviews until after it’s out. EA tells me no one’s getting access ahead of release. I’m nervous.
— Dan Stapleton (@DanStapleton) August 18, 2014
We haven’t heard anything from EA locally about Sims 4 review copies, but if IGN US is having issues getting early access I’d expect nearly everyone to as well. That doesn’t outright mean that the Sims 4 will be a bad game, but if EA isn’t comfortable with press getting their hands on it before it hits shelves, that should tell you something.
The Sims 4 is being released on September 2nd exclusively on PC.
Last Updated: August 20, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 20, 2014 at 13:06
I initially read that as “after lunch” & was concerned because I’ve just eaten lunch & didn’t know if there’d be any negative side effects.
Sith JJ
August 20, 2014 at 13:35
Rather after than before and it puts you off eating.
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 20, 2014 at 13:42
Kinda like “insert commentators name”‘s face!
clay
September 1, 2014 at 23:12
At least you wont have to worry about swimming for at least an hour after lunch because there wont be any pools…
Ryanza
August 20, 2014 at 13:07
So can’t the press just buy a copy and let loose on EA and Origin?
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
August 20, 2014 at 13:16
Yes, after launch.
Rinceable
August 20, 2014 at 13:58
Yeah, but one of the main points of having reviews is to stop you buying shit games. I mean, I was going to buy Aliens: Colonial Marines (it was also embargoed) but because a decent chap told me HOLD OFF I didn’t waste my money.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 20, 2014 at 15:41
A decent chap told me to steer clear of watch dogs. Good man!
H0nkeys Have No Lips
August 21, 2014 at 01:03
sounds like another moron who was expecting a gta clone
Hammersteyn
August 20, 2014 at 13:10
I bet their servers won’t float under the weight of people jumping in day one. This could drown the series and then they wont be swimming in a pool of money. Though I doubt my assumption holds any water
Lardus-Resident Perve
August 20, 2014 at 13:13
http://community.us.playstation.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/279078iF57B2F84025C0789?v=mpbl-1
Ryanza
August 20, 2014 at 13:13
Does Sims 4 have always online servers?
Hammersteyn
August 20, 2014 at 13:13
You probably have to log in through Origin.
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 20, 2014 at 13:17
This game isn’t a splash in the pond when it comes to their liquidity. The constant drips & drabs of DLC releases will cause major ripples.
Hammersteyn
August 20, 2014 at 13:19
I thought I was clever O_o
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 20, 2014 at 13:23
Make it (b)rain!
Spaffy
August 20, 2014 at 13:20
How childish of them
Sk3tz0
August 20, 2014 at 13:25
still upset there no pool in Sim 4 hey 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 20, 2014 at 13:35
Well, it’s safe to throw your toys out the cot about it because there’s no toddlers who can pick them up & choke on them either.
Sk3tz0
August 20, 2014 at 13:36
I dont mind that there are no Pools in Sim4.. I’ll figure out a way of killing the little fuckers some how.. I always do..
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 20, 2014 at 13:13
Released on September 2, then the servers will crash & no one will be able to play, then everyone will lose their shit, EA will say they crashed because of unprecedented demand, about a week later it should be fixed, then you’ll have to download a gigantic patch, then the servers will crash because of demand for the patch & everyone will lose their shit again, EA will come out & tell everyone that gamers are entitled whiners & should be grateful but to show no ill will they’ll get some clothing items for the inconvenience & everyone will be happy, after another week everything should be up & running again & everyone will play, a few days later the servers will be hacked & something will be messed up, EA will blame that on users for as long as they can until it comes out they hadn’t secured the servers properly & announce the first DLC pack. I can’t predict any further because I’m worried I’ll hurt myself.
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
August 20, 2014 at 13:43
The sad fact is I can see it going down EXACTLY like that
ElimiNathan
August 20, 2014 at 13:15
That usually indicates sh*t game
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 20, 2014 at 15:42
A very shit game….
Sk3tz0
August 20, 2014 at 13:25
maybe IGN not getting the early access, because EA decided not to pay them for the 10/10 price range and free merchandise those sorry sacks at IGN get for giving out Good reviews to shitty games.. FOR SHAME ON U IGN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ryanza
August 20, 2014 at 13:26
The shit started with the explanation of not having pools in the game.
Games are being built around DRM now. Look at how Simcity was built around DRM.
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
August 20, 2014 at 13:33
*not sure if DRM trolling… or serious*
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
August 20, 2014 at 13:42
No dude. Ryanza is serious about DRM. He is probably right too. The game probably has some form of DRM that EA doesn’t want the world to know about until after launch. They don’t want the same backlash they had with SimCity and its always online which is why they won’t release it early for review
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
August 20, 2014 at 13:41
And this is how you ensure people are afraid of your product. This just enforces the view that the game is going to be crap because if EA are scared of reviews before it’s launched then clearly they themselves know the game is a pile of… well you know.
Anon A Mouse
August 20, 2014 at 13:43
EA is just afraid that it will be pirated by the millions if they do an early release. This game is going to be super awesome and a money tsunami is going to hit EA when it release.
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
August 20, 2014 at 13:44
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/2/22563/1316623-obvious_troll.preview.jpg
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 20, 2014 at 13:46
Goddamn Susan & her stupid husband Fred. Always pitches up even though they’re not invited.
Anon A Mouse
August 20, 2014 at 13:46
And here I thought I was subtly sarcastic.
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
August 20, 2014 at 15:07
lol
Ryanza
August 20, 2014 at 13:57
in that picture the black guy stands out.
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
August 20, 2014 at 13:48
I don’t think that it’ll be as big a success as the other Sims games. The boxart and game graphics look *just* like The Sims 3, even the “features” listed on the back of the box won’t sound like anything new to the franchise.
The fans are already annoyed with having had to double- and even triple-dip on the same expansion pack content since The Sims 2.
Rinceable
August 20, 2014 at 13:57
Eish, that is never a good sign.
ToshZA
August 20, 2014 at 13:58
Well I think one’s easy. It’s the Sims. You control virtual people and make them do virtual things. Just like every Sims game before it. Only now you’ll get new tools to create them with, and make their houses. Since those have been sampled already – we already know all we need to. If you want the new tools and more Sims, buy the game. If you don’t care and want to drown your sims, keep playing any of the previous versions.
Nikola
August 20, 2014 at 13:59
I made a mistake like that pre ordered Bound by Flame for PS4 bcuz of the whole review thing I traded in back the next day, as soon as I see something like this I assume the game is complete crap!
Brady miaau
August 20, 2014 at 14:42
Same here (AFTER READING REVIEWS), except did not trade in. Broken game, too easy, too difficult, all in the space of 30 seconds
Nikola
August 20, 2014 at 14:46
Hahah I know just a terrible terrible game overall I don’t like trading games in like to collect them but didn’t want this rubish in my collection lol
Rags
August 20, 2014 at 14:41
Well I prefer it this way. Early access reviews can’t be trusted. Error 37.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 20, 2014 at 15:40
Yep, this is going to be SimCity/battlefield4 levels of fail. EA wants another golden poo.
http://ts4news.com/post/94541924952/89-features-missing-from-the-sims-4
MakeItLegal
August 20, 2014 at 16:47
Sounds like they pulling a fast one on sleeping consumers and ill informed parents
Dizzyl3mon
August 20, 2014 at 20:14
If you guys are looking for reviews you need to go to YouTube to watch the game play footage and reviews from community Simmers. They got access to a full release of the game and played for 6 hours, recorded footage, and uploaded it with commentary for everyone to see. Seems its only the corporate press that got cut out.
Sovereign
August 20, 2014 at 20:37
No reviews means no pre-order from me.
J_Joestar
August 21, 2014 at 19:24
Makes me wonder if they have to pay more to reviewers when they want a bad game rated higher compared to something that is just mediocre.
tobactrac
August 22, 2014 at 22:14
I doubt there’ll be any resolution to this what with the release date coming so soon, but I’m trying to gather opposition for review embargoes for any upcoming EA games if anyone’s interested: http://gamerpetitions.com/petition/ea-review-embargo
Dead Horse
August 27, 2014 at 01:27
The engine is warmed up and this train is ready to leave the station, what a wonderful TRAINWRECK this promises to be.
Larry Meredith
September 3, 2014 at 08:35
One explanation might be that they’re afraid of it leaking. As I recall, a prerelease version of Sims 3 got leaked and cracked before the official release date.