New Worlds in Sims 4: Insider Reveals EA's Plans for Paid "World Packs"
According to a fresh report from a trusted insider, Electronic Arts is exploring the possibility of selling new worlds for The Sims 4 as separate sets. While development of new expansions appears to have stopped, the company is looking for ways to maintain player interest and possibly revive sales.
Earlier, we wrote about EA's plans for Project X, as well as recent announcements of collaborations with popular films.
World Sets for The Sims 4 as a New Strategy?
Recently, the game has been living mainly off collaborations and creator sets in the Marketplace, and new "full" expansions seem to be a thing of the past. However, according to the insider, EA management is seriously considering the idea of releasing new worlds as separate paid sets.
The main concept: players will be offered sets containing 2-3 new neighborhoods with a unique atmosphere and, possibly, a small set of build items. This could be a compromise between large and expensive expansions and small cosmetic content sets. However, as the source notes, EA is not sure about the demand for such a format and is wondering whether it would be better to save ideas for new worlds for Project X, which is positioned as the "next generation" of the franchise.
And since we're talking about towns, we want to remind you — we have a detailed article on our blog about map replacements in The Sims 4. In case you want to diversify your game without waiting for new worlds.
Community Reaction and Context
The news has already sparked discussion among fans, many of whom express interest in such a possibility if the price is reasonable. On Reddit and in comments on the news, players note that they would consider purchasing worlds if they offered something truly new and didn't cost "astronomical money." Some also see potential in this for solving long-standing problems, such as adding worlds with unique gameplay opportunities (for example, surfing).
Nevertheless, this is just one of the points in the fresh insider report. The information is unconfirmed, but the news that EA is considering such a possibility gives hope for a new branch of content development in Sims 4.
Other News from the Insider Report
Failed collaboration. Negotiations with a certain pop star (rumored to be Zara Larsson) about a collaboration fell through due to the scandal surrounding the EA buyout. The star did not want to be associated with this topic or get involved in any way while the acquisition process was ongoing.
Project X under pressure. EA is demanding that developers make the game accessible to a wider range of devices, including integrated graphics and ARM processors, which could lead to compromises in the visual component. Later, the insider clarified that integrated graphics can now do much more than everyone thinks. He assures that it is unlikely that the experience of The Sims 4 will be repeated, since it uses outdated architecture.
The Marketplace is not living up to expectations. Free giveaways have not led to an increase in sales of paid content, and EA is looking for new ways to monetize the platform. Perhaps we should expect new types of content in the store. It is enough just to listen to the players, who openly state the lack of men's clothing and items for toddlers.
However, the main question that worries many players now is the possible introduction of "world sets." Will they bring back interest in the game, or will EA still focus on developing Project X? Time will tell. Stay tuned for updates so you don't miss news about possible releases.
