Sims 5 – Expected to be Free to Play at Launch
Posted on June 28, 2023 by Aywren
It’s been popping up here and there that “Sims 5” – currently known as “Project Rene” – is going to be free to play at launch. It seems that the response to making the Sims 4 base game was strong enough to warrant the idea that the next in the line of games should follow in its footsteps.
But exactly what does this mean for the future of the Sims?
Sure, “free to play” base game sounds like a great idea. I mean, who doesn’t want a free game, right?
However, long-time gamers know that there’s no such thing as a free game. Strings are always attached. Free games usually come with built-in massive micro-transactions or major limitations to the base game content.
Free is free to sucker folks into trying the game out in such an entertainment environment that we have now days where everything is vying for your free time. Then free tries to entice you into purchases, or hook you with addictive playing and…
Well. Free is rarely a wholesome form of monetization.
Upon hearing the Sims 5 base game will be free, the community has voiced its doubts already, rather than embraced this concept with glee. I’m not shy to say that I’m one of these people.
Can a free game be a good game without predatory elements trying to sucker people into paying far more than the base game would have cost? Sure. It could. But why would it when previous monetization tactics have shown over and over people will open their wallets?
If anything, I’m a little sad to know this. Will this be the breaking point that makes me walk away from the franchise after supporting it since the original launch of Sims 1?
I don’t know. I guess that depends on what EA does with it and how invasive the in-game store (because you know there’s going to be one) becomes. There’s also the question of how this is going to effect custom content creators – will there be any custom content at all if it directly competes with whatever storefront the devs create to support the development of the game?
Don’t know as of yet. There’s still a long time before we find out, too.
For now, I’ll just look forward to my horse expansion and enjoy the Sims I have.
What do you think of Sims 5 being free to play out of the gates?