What day is The Sims 4 becoming free?

The Sims 4 base game will become free to play on October 18, 2022, allowing all new players to download it at no cost on various platforms, including PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. This move is part of EA’s strategy to make the game more accessible and to generate revenue through expansion packs and other in-game content.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. What time will The Sims 4 be free? The Sims 4 base game will be available to download for free starting from October 18, 2022, with no specific time announced, implying it will be available throughout the day.
2. Is The Sims 4 free now forever? Yes, the Sims 4 base game is permanently free to download and play, with EA continuing to support it with free content and feature updates.
3. Will Sims 4 be free permanent? The Sims 4 base game is permanently free to download for PC and Mac via the EA app, Origin, or Steam, as well as for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Series S, and Xbox One systems.

Platform Availability

4. Is Sims 4 free on Xbox? Yes, the Sims 4 base game is free to download on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One systems.
5. Can you play Sims 4 on PlayStation? Yes, the Sims 4 base game is free to download on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Cost and Revenue Model

6. How much was Sims 4 before it was free? The Sims 4 base game was priced at $19.99 before it became free to play.
7. Why is The Sims 4 free now? The Sims 4 became free to play because it generates revenue mainly through expansion packs, and there were few sales of the base game.

Game Content and Features

8. Can you play Sims 4 without expansion packs? Although possible, playing The Sims 4 without expansion packs might limit the gaming experience, as the base game has remained largely unchanged since its launch.
9. What if I bought Sims 4 before it was free? If you’ve already purchased the Sims 4 base game, EA will provide EA Play and EA Play Pro members with an upgraded experience through member-only bundles.

Future Developments and Sequels

10. Will there be a Sims 5? Yes, The Sims 5 is in development, with EA and Maxis working on it, and it will coexist with The Sims 4.
11. Will Sims 5 be free? There has been no official announcement regarding the pricing of The Sims 5, but EA has reassured players that The Sims 4 will have no subscriptions and no “energy mechanics”.
12. Will Sims 5 be multiplayer? The Sims 5 will have a greater emphasis on multiplayer than previous games in the series.

Player Demographics and Game Perception

13. Is The Sims a girl game? The Sims is not exclusively a “girl game”; it is a unisex game about creating and controlling virtual lives.
14. Why did EA make Sims free? EA made The Sims 4 free because the game generates most of its revenue through expansion packs, and base game sales were low.

Technical and Cheating

15. How do you test cheats on Sims 4? To test cheats in The Sims 4, players can bring up the cheat menu by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C on PC or holding down all the shoulder buttons on console, then enter the desired cheat code.