Now that more and more details about The Sims 5 continue to emerge, some Sims fans are concerned that the game may flop. Within the Sims community, there are concerns about the multiplayer functionalities, online elements, open worlds, mods and custom content, and other aspects of the game.
On this page, you’ll find answers to questions like “Will The Sims 5 flop?” and “What are the reasons the game could become a flop?”
On this page:
Will Sims 5 flop?
The more we know about The Sims 5 (also known as Project Rene), the more concerned Sims fans become. But will the next generation of The Sims flop?
Honestly, it’s hard to say whether the game will flop, especially now that a lot about it is still unclear.
Some remarkable details about the game have been revealed. And as you may have guessed, Sims fans have different opinions about these aspects.
First of all, we now know that The Sims 5’s base game will be free to download once it’s available.
Even though this may sound very appealing at first, many Simmers wonder if this means that microtransactions will be part of the game. This means that you can purchase in-game items and features with real money. Based on votes on a poll in our The Sims 5 Facebook community, it’s clear that the big majority of Sims players don’t like microtransactions.
Besides that, we know that The Sims 5 will become a multiplayer game (with a single-player mode as well).
Many fans have expressed that they don’t want to be online all the time, or that they don’t want to play with others, particularly not with strangers.
Multiplayer games often come with certain limitations. Having multiplayer functionalities could mean that mods and custom content (CC) may not be part of this new Sims generation. Since modding plays an essential role in the Sims community, it could scare away a lot of gamers.
On the other hand, it looks like The Sims 5 will become a very different game. It will be innovative yet familiar. Innovative because it comes with a multiplayer mode, but familiar because it still has the Sims feel.
Even though many Simmers may disagree, Electronic Arts (EA) and Maxis try to show that they listen carefully to the community’s concerns.
The developers regularly share updates about the game’s development during Behind The Sims livestreams on YouTube. Besides that, they also invite smaller groups of players to playtest sessions. This is where the developers test the game and gather feedback.
Some of you may remember SimCity 2013, another game developed by EA and Maxis, which completely flopped. SimCity was a very popular franchise many years ago.
This failure is also one of the reasons why many Sims gamers are concerned about The Sims 5. EA and Maxis simply cannot afford another unsuccessful launch, so they will do everything they can to deliver a great new Sims generation.
The Sims is a very strong franchise. It’s still very much alive and kicking. For years, many Simmers have complained about the direction in which The Sims 4 is moving. Some say that EA and Maxis don’t care about the Sims community but only about maximizing profit.
Despite this, The Sims 4 expansion pack sales remain very strong. In 2019, the game achieved a lifetime revenue milestone of $1 billion (USD). This shows that, despite all the criticism, the game is still flourishing. The Sims 4 definitely didn’t become a flop in that way.
With that in mind, we are hopeful for the future of The Sims 5. Will it become a flop? It’s too soon to draw this conclusion.
13 reasons why Sims 5 could flop
What are the main reasons that could make The Sims 5 flop?
As mentioned in the section above, many Simmers are concerned about the future of The Sims. Now that more is being revealed about The Sims 5, more concerns are showing up. It’s too soon to say whether or not the fifth generation of The Sims will flop.
Based on feedback from Simmers in our The Sims 5 Facebook community, we’ve gathered 13 possible reasons why the next iteration of The Sims could actually flop:
1. Lack of innovation
If The Sims 5 doesn’t introduce enough new and innovative gameplay features beyond what was offered in previous Sims games, Sims fans may feel like it’s not worth purchasing. Sticking too closely to the old formula and not taking risks could lead to complaints about The Sims 5 feeling stale.
Simmers don’t want annoying loading screens, rabbit holes, or very tiny neighborhoods. Besides that, the controls and UI of the game should feel intuitive and user-friendly without being overcomplicated. Build and buy modes, in particular, should be easy to navigate.
2. Technical issues
If the fifth generation is buggy or has significant technical problems at launch that hamper gameplay, it could turn off Sims fans and lead to bad reviews. A rocky launch plagued by glitches could doom its reception.
The underlying engine (Unreal Engine) and mechanics need to be optimized for stability, shorter load times, and smooth performance on a variety of different devices.
3. Unappealing visuals
While the gameplay is most important, if the graphics, animations, or overall visual style of The Sims 5 feels like a downgrade from previous games, it could disappoint players expecting a next-gen leap forward.
Within the Sims community, there are some concerns that the visual style could look too cartoony or stray too far from The Sims’ roots. Dated or unappealing visuals could contribute to the game flopping.
4. Always online
If The Sims 5 requires a constant internet connection, it could annoy fans who want to play offline. Server issues at launch could also frustrate players.
5. Multiplayer focus
News about increased multiplayer and online social features worries some longtime solo Sims players, who fear the core single-player experience will be diluted. Many instead want the classic gameplay foundations to remain intact.
6. Too expensive
Sims games can be quite pricey. Even though The Sims 5’s base game will be free to download, it’s evident that there will be many expansion packs and perhaps in-game microtransactions as well.
Currently, all The Sims 4 packs combined already cost more than $1.150 USD. That’s a lot of money, especially for a younger target audience. Playing The Sims 5 could become an expensive hobby after all.
7. Microtransactions overload
Putting too much content behind incremental purchases, microtransactions, or subscription walls could come off as greedy. An overemphasis on monetization over fun gameplay might provoke a backlash. Sims players want value for their money.
8. Lack of content
Previous Sims games often lacked content or depth at launch. Expansions were needed to expand and improve gameplay.
If The Sims 5’s base game lacks enough gameplay options, Sims fans may feel it’s an incomplete experience.
On the other hand, Simmers don’t want hundreds of pointless expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs, and kits, either. It’s not good to overcomplicate or distort with new content and features.
9. Gameplay depth
Some Simmers worry that the gameplay will become oversimplified, dumbed down, or even repetitive.
Many Sims gamers want complex Sim behavior, emotions, interactions, life stages, and challenging game mechanics. Besides that, they also want open worlds and bigger lots.
10. Poor character customization
In-depth character customization in CAS (Create a Sim) is a hallmark of The Sims. If options feel more limited compared to past games, it would displease Sims fans. The Sims 5 should provide in-depth character creation tools with tons of options for shaping unique and diverse Sims.
11. No support for specific platforms
Lack of Mac, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S support at launch could disappoint a portion of players who expect flexibility in platforms.
12. No support for mods and custom content (CC)
As obvious as it may sound, many fans will be disappointed if there won’t be support for mods or custom content (CC) in the next generation of The Sims. The modding community shouldn’t be forgotten or ignored.
13. Alienating franchise fans
Making too many changes and straying too far from what core Sims fans love about the franchise could backfire.
Dramatic shifts away from fan-favorite features and gameplay could leave dedicated Simmers dissatisfied. EA and Maxis need to listen to what Sims gamers actually really want.