The Sims 5 will be free-to-play according to a leaked job ad

[Daniel Sims]

In brief: As it turns out, EA's decision to convert The Sims 4 into a free-to-play game last year indicated where the company intends to take the entire franchise. A leaked job listing details EA's planned monetization model for the next installment, which likely won't see full release for a long while.

Electronic Arts recently posted, then removed a job advertisement that described the next installment of The Sims as a free-to-enter game. The job description implies that the company will monetize the upcoming title primarily or entirely through microtransactions.

The opening is for a head of monetization and marketplace for Project Rene – the codename of the next major title in The Sims franchise. The primary responsibilities described involve managing a store full of free and paid content.

The Sims 4 began life in 2014 as a premium-priced game before EA made it free to download last October. In the game's nearly nine years on the market – the longest stretch between new entries in the franchise's 23-year history – it has racked up a sizable library of expansion packs that remain paid. The dozens of DLC items available for The Sims 4 collectively cost almost $800, and that's with steep Steam sale discounts. The job listing suggests EA was satisfied with the results of the shift and is planning more aggressive monetization for the sequel.

A recent livestream also offered an early look into Project Rene's development. The company displayed prototypes of the game's art pipeline, animation system, and socialization elements, which are poised for a significant overhaul over The Sims 4.

When EA initially announced Project Rene last October, it said it wanted to make a collaborative multiplayer experience that works seamlessly across consoles, PC, and mobile. In a demonstration, changes made in one version were immediately updated on the other.

Project Rene wouldn't be EA's first attempt at launching a multiplayer free-to-play version of The Sims. The Sims Mobile faced harsh criticism for its energy pack-based monetization, so it's safe to assume the upcoming entry won't utilize that system. Series fans should also note that the title won't see a release anytime soon, so the design elements the job description referenced could certainly change.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/99253-sims-5-free-play-according-leaked-job-ad.html

 

[yRaz]

EA and "free to play" don't mix. Sims 4 DLC cost almost $1000.

 

[Dimitriid]

I can think of one other core franchise EA absolutely botched to the point of no return on a single release: Do you remember Simcity 2013? Of course you don't: it was a terrible game that went in so far into making sure it would be an always-online experience it negatively impacted actual gameplay elements and then two years later Paradox released a competitor called Cities Skylines which has been fairly successful for them and went on to not only fully replace Simcity as the defacto city builder but revitalize the entire subgenre altogether in the indie space.

There was money to be made from city builders, just not all of the money like EA wanted and they decided back then and for the past decade that they were ok leaving what they consider scraps on the table if they weren't able to capture billions in microtransactions.

Sims 4 was bad enough but it is still possible to mod the game which has kept it alive for a lot of people and even very profitable for EA since some of the expansions (Like get to work) are basically an almost essential requirement for many of the mods that keep people coming back to the game. That however is apparently again, no longer good enough for EA.

So the only question is whenever or not Paradox Interactive or somebody else is ready with a spiritual successor and something tells me somebody eventually will make just that and EA might just let another property die out because there's no way The Sims can ever be successful without mods: that's what really drives it from a popular launch to a game that people keep seeking out many years after release.

 

[3volv3d]

It has no reason to be on line. So mods and a crack. EA removed basically.

Probably be the best Sims to date.

 

[godrilla]

EA and "free to play" don't mix. Sims 4 DLC cost almost $1000.

True but my daughter found these free mods that helps mitigate that at least the cosmetic add ons. This free to play will probably alway require online connection and prevent mods.

 

[yRaz]

True but my daughter found these free mods that helps mitigate that at least the cosmetic add ons. This free to play will probably alway require online connection and prevent mods.

People need to just atop giving EA money. I remember in the early 2000s when they were a good company that released innovative games. They helped drive the industry and now all they left us with is a dumpster fire that people are too dumb to stop paying for.

 

[Shear]

Oh dear lord. Microtransaction for everything. Wallpapers. Windows. Furniture. Clothes. Anything you can imagine.

Meanwhile "Life By You" is being made by Paradox and will be completely modable.

 

[Bl00dyMinded]

Free to play.. Pay to Win lol

 

[vicsrealms]

Considering there is about a thousand dollars worth of DLC for the fourth Sims game. I would say they already over done the micro transactions.

 

[Gars]

Ofc
silicon lips and other parts r must to have
and thats costly, like in rl

 

[ID10T]

Another one bites the dust