The Slow Decline Of The Sims: How EA Is Draining The Life From Its Best Franchise

by

Indeed, The Sims! A collection of games that have undeniably molded generations of gamers – at least for those who owned a relatively powerful computer in the last two decades. In those days, the possibilities seemed endless. Nowadays, I often find myself pondering how Electronic Arts continues to pull off everything under the sun – and yet thrive in doing so.

From Joy to Frustration

Back in the day, an exciting moment would occur: A fresh expansion pack would be unveiled, sparking your enthusiasm. You’d rush to your neighborhood gaming store, bring home the CD, and then, for extended periods of time, immerse yourself in a completely different game universe. The new careers, characteristics, and life phases – content that significantly altered the gaming experience.

Currently, The Sims 4 has been transformed into a live service game. While theoretically acceptable, the issue arises when Electronic Arts (EA) uses this structure solely for profit, often neglecting quality. The packs have become excessively pricey, offering minimal value in return. Spending $15 just to let my Sims do laundry? I’d rather pass. If you wish to enjoy The Sims 4 with all available content today, you’ll need to shell out over $1,300. Who has that kind of money? And more crucially: who would want to?

Little Content, Big Problems

As a passionate enthusiast, I’ve noticed a shift in the quality of expansions over time. What used to offer fresh mechanics, vast new worlds, and intricate systems now often feels like additional elements that should have been part of the base game from the start. Instead of groundbreaking innovations, we are left with temporary content that quickly becomes dull. And as the Steam reviews suggest, very few expansions can even maintain a respectable average rating.

Additionally, it appears that Electronic Arts (EA) has struggled to maintain the technical condition of one of its flagship franchises. For extended periods, persistent bugs have gone unaddressed, while updates that resolve one problem often create two more. Even the much-anticipated re-releases of The Sims 1 and 2 for longtime fans failed to deliver significant improvements. These re-releases were merely tossed into the catalog without any meaningful technical upgrades or thoughtful extras.

EA had a golden opportunity to uphold their reputation and honor The Sims’ long-standing success. However, it seems like they are gradually eroding the game’s quality, which is causing even diehard fans to eventually lose interest.

Read More

2025-07-14 19:09