I know this is not the right place to post this and I normally do not even look at the 4 section here, but I got the new EP. The world is gorgeous. As always I wish there were more lots. I have done 2 new lots already. Some of the clothes and hairdos are very fun and I like many of the build and buy items. I am playing on a good but now 7 year old (!) laptop. It was crashing at first but after did a repair all is fine so far. I do not regret getting this EP. I normally wait for sales but decided what the heck would go ahead and get it now. With all the BS going on now I can use some new entertainment.

A whole thread of the recycled objects in this EP

This is legitimately insane. At this point I'm used to TS4 reusing content, but not like this. From the objects to the animation, to the gameplay mechanics; there's almost nothing in this pack that's actually new.

A pretty new world and some nice CAS items, but that's about it.

SatchOnSims states that this pack was pretty much developed with a lot of EA input and not just with the input of the sims' developers. That could explain why we see so many recycled stuff (from objects to mechanics). We all know that EA likes to cut costs so that seems plausible to me.

He also states that there might be a subscription model for Project X, so you will have to pay yearly to get access to all the DLCs.

SimsCommunity has had some articles lately covering leaks and rumours about the future of the series. Sadly, it all makes for rather grim reading IMO. Emphasis in bold is mine.

“Mooca” is The Alleged Name of New The Sims Virtual Currency

Digital currencies and premium content. For a game that already has 100+ DLCs. Joy.

RUMOR: The Future of The Sims 4, Project X and Project Rene Post-Buyout
This article has a lot of information in this one, so I'll just post some choice quotes. I do recommend reading the full article:

More "creator" crap. Yay. Lately they've been bribing their creator community hardcore to keep the remaining people from jumping ship, so this is probably going to be another aspect of this.


This explains why the new pack has so much blatantly recycled content. It was intentional to keep costs to an absolute minimum. And executives are directly moving in to ensure this is the case moving forward (execs probably the ones demanding the "creators" are sent expensive bribes too).

Executives taking direct creative control also means they'll ensure no content is included that doesn't meet the approval of their new masters.


So Project X will have some new assets, but generally be as mechanically similar to TS4 as possible.


Personally, I get the impression the Sims team didn't really want to make Rene to begin with, it was just a compromise with EA executives who were demanding certain aspects like multiplayer, cross-play, "player engagement" mechanics, etc. Now that the team have managed to score a proper PC game project to work on, they can let Rene can quietly fall by the wayside.


Translation: Run what's left of the franchise's carcass into the ground, so they have more money to burn on the sports games. Line must go up!

It goes on to say that morale at Maxis is understandably dire at the moment. I do feel for the devs on the ground who have to contend with all of this nonsense. It really feels like the end times for the series.

If all of the rumors the Sims Community are posting ( I don't believe anything they post these days...) are true, in the background, the sims franchise will be run like any 'cozy' slop game that can be found these days that are essentially Stardew Valley rip-offs or Stawdew Valley / ACNH hybrid rip-offs.

Heartopia is currently the big thing on YouTube. The game is boring AF, it has all the cheap graphics, microtransactions, ect... The other game that comes to mind is Disney Dreamlight Valley. It is loaded with bugs that are ignored, it has a highly overpriced store, they do campaigns, blah, blah, blah. Sound familiar? It is just like the Sims Mobile that was recently shut down. All of these ass hats use the same play book. The days of being different from each other died a long time ago.

I can't even watch people play DDV. The flying animations look like characters are a piece of stiff cardboard trying to swim through the air, then there is the horse thing. People get on the horse, two seconds later they're off the horse. They do this over and over and over again because the player can, but also because players are too friggin' lazy to have their character walk a couple of squares. The endless clicking must be exhausting.

Of course things will have a sims twist as EA isn't going to give up 25 years of patents so there will be the plumbobs and the usual things a person would find in a sims game, but game play wise it will be a rinse, wash, repeat of the shit games that are currently available. I don't buy or play any of the crap. I have zero desire to load up TS3 never mind play / pay for all that garbage. If I'm going to play anything, I load up ACNH. Nintendo is just as much of a POS company as EA, but like my TS3 game, I don't have to deal with them. The only time I hear from them is for updates.

I can not even put into words just how...dystopian that sounds. Even by EA standards, that is vile. I knew once kits were introduced that this franchise was about to get a lot cheaper and a lot more predatory; and I accepted that. But between the latest expansion pack and...all this...Oh, we're about to be in for some dishonest corporate bullshit the likes of which haven't been seen since all the bad gaslighting and damage control they were doing back when the game first launched.

If this is all true, prepare for a lot more My First Pet Stuff and Journey to Batuu.

I will post this and then probably that is it in this section. I have no regrets getting the EP as probably the last. I love to build and am working on another lot. I like the world, I like the build and buy items, I like the CAS things. I will do the mini quests. I always like creating new characters. I have zero interest in things like sword fighting, which as said is just another version of past things. I have already used items from one of the kits in the build I am doing now.

I am aware of all the issues with the game, as have played all 4 versions.

I have ZERO interest in Renee, any mobile game, Project X, whatever. None. So this is probably the last addition to my Sims games. I can spend time picking it apart, or instead play it and enjoy the things it does have to offer.

I need to play more with the stairs to see what we actually can and cannot do now?

Hey everyone. Just wanted to chime in a little and try and lessen the 'black pill'ing going around regarding The Sims.

We all know The Sims 4 has had one rocky, troubled, and wild run to put it mildly. No matter what happens going forward though, we'll always have it. We can always go back to it.

Video gaming as an industry is going through some pretty bad decline from my seasoned experience as a decades-long gamer. Honestly? I'm glad people are starting to push back. The company greed is getting way out of control. Doesn't matter who anymore - EA, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft... (And I thought on-disc DLCs were bad back in 2014 before I got to know the true gacha micro-transaction whaling of today...)

Either way, sometimes things have to crash before they regain ground. It sounds grim to say that I anticipate some kind of crash in the near future, but I also remain hopeful that things will build up and be better for it. Only time will tell. So, personally, for me, the buy out of EA is somewhat of a relief - I welcome a change in management that may see it thrive rather than continue down the road of dumpster fire after dumpster fire.

Until that day, enjoy the older titles, and fill your life with fun and enjoyment. Don't fund the bad business practices. Embrace the good ones. And have fun~

Same stance. I rather play/install older games from time to time until I eventually get bored, or invest to inZoi and await Paralives. Screw EA crap as I won’t be buying any recent and update crap from them. They don’t fucking deserve anything for running this franchise into the ground. They can woohoo with their remasters and other mobile games. They had a solid unique IP game, that no else really had, and those ungrateful bastards massacared it and the fanbase that poured love and kept it running.

I'll be surprised if the sims franchise survives the first year of being owned by the Saudi government. This franchise embraces many things the Saudi government is against / does not like. Then there is the fact that the only reason they want EA in the first place is for the sports titles and all the gambling that comes with those. They're expecting FIFA or whatever the frick it is called these days to rake in billions like Monopoly Go.

The only reason EA is 'raking is billions' at this point is because of Wall Street. Take away Wall Street money and EA isn't making shit for net profit for AAA gaming company. It is questionable whether they'll be able to make their debt payments, never mind publishing a game worth the money and or time of day.

I want Maxis to go the IO route and just separate themselves from EA.

...and right after writing this, I'm reminded of Hitman going on the FOMO trend and time gating major DLC, which may never be purchasable again.

Never mind.