Modern gaming has become an expensive hobby, with the rise of microtransactions, downloadable content (DLC), and expansion packs putting a serious dent in players’ wallets. The Sims 4, EA’s popular life simulation game, has become the poster child for cash-grab monetization strategies in the gaming industry. As the franchise prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary on February 4th and The Sims 4 nears its 10th year, fans continue to express frustration over broken game mechanics and lingering bugs in the base game.
EA confirmed it will not release the long-requested Sims 5 but will develop “Project Rene,” a next-generation Sims experience. Meanwhile, the company is experimenting with a new mobile game for the franchise, sparking interest in how it will perform on Android gaming phones. Despite the game’s steep costs and persistent technical issues, fans remain loyal. Whether this stems from corporate greed or consumer-driven demand, players recognize that much of modern gaming focuses more on maximizing profit than delivering games that work.
The history of The Sims 4 shows the problem with modern gaming
How EA turned an iconic franchise into a cash cow
When The Sims 4 launched in 2014, it introduced improved AI and customization for Sims, enhanced building tools, and a visual overhaul. Players criticized it for lacking beloved features from The Sims 3 and launching with numerous bugs that disrupted gameplay.
Leaked screenshots, concept videos, and project code revealed that EA didn’t originally intend for The Sims 4 to be a traditional experience like The Sims 3. Instead, EA planned a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game called The Sims Olympus. EA began developing The Sims Olympus in 2008, the same year they shut down servers of The Sims Online, a financial disaster.
Video and computer games are growing increasingly reliant on remote servers and the implementation of Digital Rights Management (DRM) to function properly. When these measures fail, consumers are left with an unplayable experience. In these cases, the consumer should have the right to expect a full refund, whether the game was purchased in physical or digital form. — 2013 SimCity Petition
One year before launch, EA scrapped The Sims Olympus following backlash to another EA game, SimCity 2013. Players couldn’t play the game at launch because EA’s servers collapsed under the strain. The game required a constant internet connection, even in single-player mode, which outraged players who wanted offline PC games.
Tens of thousands of gamers responded by petitioning the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the White House. They demanded “an industry-wide return policy for video games that rely on remote servers and DRM to function properly.”
EA’s rush to strip MMO features from The Sims Olympus and rework it left The Sims 4 game bare-bones on launch, missing critical features, and full of bugs. To compensate for the incomplete release, EA reintroduced content through paid expansion packs, which sparked the ongoing controversy over the game’s DLC. At first, expansion packs were a way for EA to make up for rushing their game to market.
EA’s monetization model exploits its most loyal fans
Players pay more and get less with every new DLC
The Sims 4’s biggest controversy is its pricing model. EA’s monetization strategy frustrates players by forcing them to buy multiple packs to access gameplay features that feel essential. While expansions and DLCs can add value, EA’s approach left fans feeling frustrated for the last decade.
- Essential gameplay is locked behind expansions: Players need pricey packs to access core features like weather (Seasons), pets (Cats & Dogs), and high school gameplay (High School Years).
- Content is fragmented across smaller packs: Features that earlier Sims games bundled into large expansions are now split into smaller Stuff Packs and Kits, forcing players to spend more to get less.
- Sales create the illusion of savings: EA frequently discounts older DLCs, encouraging players to “complete their collection,” but even with discounts, the total cost remains higher than most games.
- Content quality varies wildly: Packs like Journey to Batuu and My First Pet Stuff received backlash for ignoring fan requests, being released with bugs, and limited gameplay.
- Free updates feel incomplete. EA occasionally releases free updates, but these often seem like teasers for paid DLC that players must purchase to complete the experience.
We’ve been asking for werewolves and horses, and they gave us lightsabers. It’s like they’re not even listening to us. — Reddit
The backlash peaked with Journey to Batuu, a Star Wars-themed Game Pack. EA polled players on what features they wanted, and fans overwhelmingly requested additions like werewolves, horses, and other favorites from The Sims 3. Instead, EA released Journey to Batuu, which felt like an effort to capitalize on their Disney licensing deal rather than deliver what the community wanted. Players called it a blatant cash grab and criticized EA for ignoring their feedback yet again.
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The Sims 4’s gameplay is broken because EA prioritizes profits
But fans still support The Sims 4 despite its many issues
Owning The Sims 4’s entire DLC library doesn’t guarantee a smooth experience. It’s obvious that EA has the resources and game designers to fix the base game, but it chose not to. Despite the staggering amount of money EA invested in DLC development, the game’s core mechanics remain plagued with technical issues. Sims often ignore commands, perform nonsensical actions, or glitch through objects. These issues have become running jokes among YouTube creators like James Turner.
EA’s neglect goes beyond the base game and extends to broken DLC releases like the infamous My Wedding Stories Game Pack. Players reported being unable to complete wedding ceremonies because Sims wouldn’t follow instructions, got stuck in “arrival” mode, or encountered other critical bugs. EA relied on modders to address many of these problems, as it took weeks to release official patches, and even after updates, the pack still didn’t fully work.
Yet, The Sims 4 continues to attract a loyal fan base because it’s a great game. Players value its creative freedom and the personal connections they build with their Sims. For many, the game’s unique storytelling capabilities and the ability to shape their own worlds outweigh its flaws. Despite its issues, The Sims 4 stands out as a one-of-a-kind experience that hasn’t faced legitimate competition since its release.
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Modern gaming forces players to pay more for less
The Sims 4 illustrates how the gaming industry often prioritizes monetization over quality. With $1,235 worth of DLC and a base game riddled with bugs, the franchise is a case study of how far companies can push their customers while retaining a loyal fan base. Many fans feel exploited, and their frustrations grow louder with each new release.
As economic inequality rises and corporate greed remains unchecked, consumers lose patience and can’t afford to keep up. Diehard fans may love The Sims 4, but even their loyalty has limits. If EA, and the gaming industry as a whole, want to maintain trust and long-term support, they need to rethink how they treat players. Otherwise, they’ll find us gaming a lot less. Exploiting player passion may work in the short term, but in the long run, it risks driving even the most dedicated communities away.
