EA! Did that scare you? Well, it should. EA, the infamous video game company most known for games such as Apex Legends, FIFA, and the Sims series, is facing some backlash following the announcement of their newest expansion pack, The Sims 4 Business & Hobbies. Unfortunately, the Sims community is no stranger to dissatisfaction with the overpriced packs. Will EA’s newer content change the public’s opinion of the company for the better, or will they continue to dig a hole for themselves?
The Sims franchise debuted on February 4, 2000, and has since become an incredibly successful series of games. However, some have been more popular than others. The Sims 4, which came out in 2014, just can’t seem to meet the standards set by its predecessors, according to long-time fans. Compared to the open world feature and the large number of customization options in previous Sims games, the Sims community says the Sims 4 falls short, and unfortunately, I agree.
Expansion packs are full of clothes, furniture, and game mechanics meant to make the average Sims game more interesting. There are different levels of these packs, with expansion being the most expensive and having the largest number of items. However, players have argued that these packs include features that should’ve been a part of the base game and are disappointed that they’re hidden behind a paywall. For example, the Cats & Dogs expansion pack costs about $40, and the laundry stuff pack will run the player about $10. Even the weather has a price tag, coming in at about $40 as well.
As a frequent Sims 4 player and fan of the series in general, I have spent an embarrassing amount of time on the game. However, I must admit it gets insanely boring after the first few hours. Even with all the packs I bought, my Sims' phases never last more than a week. When I was younger, I used to save up for the packs and keep up with the newest expansion pack releases. But, at some point, I got tired of paying $40 for features I used once, maybe twice per game.
I got especially fed up with EA after the newest expansion pack, Business & Hobbies. I had already bought the Get To Work expansion back a few years ago, which included the option for Sims to own and run their own businesses. There were limitations to this feature, and it never felt quite finished. In the new pack, they expand even further on the Sims business world, which made it actually playable. So, my question is, why not just make it an update to the already existing Get To Work pack that so many Sims fans already have? The answer is, of course, money. Thanks EA…
If EA continues down the path they're on, which seems more likely given that they haven't made any changes to their game, the company could run the Sims series into the ground. Long-time fans of the series have started to stop paying hundreds of dollars just to make a boring game slightly more enjoyable. Soon enough, EA might not have a player base to sell overpriced packs to.