The Sims has been around for over 21 years and during that time there have been four main titles in the series, as well as several spin-off games. Previously the gap between mainstream games has been around four to five years but The Sims 4 is now fast approaching seven years since release.
Related:The Sims 4: Choosing The Best Expansion, Stuff, And Game Packs
As the Sims 4 extends its lead as the longest-running title in the franchise, speculation about The Sims 5 continues to build. We take a look at all the hints so far about when The Sims 5 may be announced and released and why EA Play Live 2021 is the right time for The Sims 5 to shine.
An Announcement At EA Play Offers A Perfect Timescale
The Sims 4 was announced on May 6, 2013 and released four months later on September 2. If an announcement was made at EA Play then four months later would be November, just in time for the holidays.
This is often the time Sims 4 expansion packs are released with Snowy Escape, Discover University, Get Famous, Cats & Dogs, and City Living all released in November, while Get Together came out in early December. It's clearly a good time to release Sims content.
The Current Roadmap Is Completed
The last roadmap for content, Summer of Sims, will be completed when Cottage Living is launched on July 22. This means that no other Sims 4 content is currently being teased so it may, or may not, be coming.
While there could be a Sims 4 announcement made at EA Play Live, it's equally likely to be a Sims 5 one at this point. After all, we've been waiting a long time.
The Major Subjects Are Covered In The Sims 4
Back when Discover University was released Michael Duke, then a Senior Producer for The Sims 4, said the team had a sense of freedom since they "covered most of our greatest hits." These include Seasons, Pets, and University – traditionally the strongest performing DLC themes.
Since then we've seen winter sports, eco-friendly living and now rural life and farming covered as well, alongside the extensive themes of the game packs that include restaurants, spas, occults and adventuring. The Sims 4 has a solid line up of themes in its DLC, and feels almost complete.
There's Time To "Complete" The Sims 4
Even if The Sims 5 were to come out in November, there's still time for more Sims 4 DLC. The last few years we've seen a stuff pack and game pack between Summer and Winter expansion releases, and if this tradition continues we could see some more DLC to "round off" The Sims 4. At this point, it seems unlikely we'll ever see the really major asks, like cars and an open world, but there are a few things that could be done to round off the game and make it feel complete.
Related: Things Missing From The Sims 4 That Are In Other Games In The Franchise
The most obvious one would be a Generations-style game pack offering an enhancement to family gameplay and including more interactions and items for babies, toddlers, and children. It could even come with a free update that finally allows babies to be freed from their crib.
The Schedule Is Set For The Sims To Take Center Stage
We already know that there will be information about Battlefield 2042 and Apex Legends as well as Lost In Random but many other large EA franchises won't be appearing at the event this year including anything BioWare related, Star Wars, and Skate 4.
EA Marketing Officer David Tinson revealed that the event is focused on "games that are coming out soon rather than in the all-to-distant future." As well as confirming that alongside Apex and Battlefield "We’ll have a couple of other games to highlight as well, but for those, you’ll just have to wait and see." Sliding a Sims 5 announcement into this category would be a smart move.
Sims Hype Is Already High
The Sims 4 has had a rough ride in recent years, with Dream Home Decorator in particular launching with some pretty major bugs. However, Cottage Living, set to release on the same day as EA Play, has generated a lot of positive buzz in the community. It brings a few much-desired additions including crops, livestock, and canning, as well as adding a beautiful rural world.
While the hype train is rolling a Sims 5 announcement could boost interest in the DLC and vice versa, especially if viewers are reminded that new Sims 4 content releases as they'll be watching EA Play Live.
The Time Is Right For A Sims 5 Announcement
As mentioned, the gap between releases is already far longer than with previous follow-ups. After almost seven years many players are getting the itch to try something new. Rumors have been circulating for a couple of years and we already know the game is deep in development.
A new Sims game wouldn't even need to end The Sims 4 either. There is currently a Sims 5 development team as well as a Sims 4 one, and a new resource split could see Sims 5 DLC starting to ramp up as Sims 4 DLC winds down. After all the current level of DLC wasn't settled on until about halfway through The Sims 4's lifecycle.
It remains to be seen if we're correct but we don't have long to wait since EA Play Live takes place on June 22 and will be hosted by Xavier Woods.
Next: The Sims 4 Cottage Living Preview: Cows And Llamas And Chickens, Oh My!
