After years of rumors and speculation, it’s finally official: The Sims 5 is on its way! But when will the next generation be released on PC, Mac, console, and other platforms?
Will the game be coming in 2023, 2024, or even later? Which editions of the base game can we expect? When will expansion packs be released? And will there be a demo or trial?
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about the forthcoming game in the Sims community.
On this page, we’ll try to answer these and other questions in detail. Below, you’ll find everything we know so far!
On this page:
Is Sims 5 out yet?
At the moment (2023), The Sims 5 isn’t available yet. The game hasn’t been released yet. What we do know is that it’s currently being developed!
In October 2022, Lyndsay Pearson (Vice President of Franchise Creative for The Sims at Maxis) mentioned that the game is still in its early stages.
So, when is the fifth generation actually coming? Is it coming anytime soon?
When is Sims 5 going to be released?
One of the most frequently asked questions in the Sims community definitely is when The Sims 5 will be released.
The fourth generation, The Sims 4, came out in 2013. This was almost a decade ago, which is a very long time for a Sims generation in general. In other words, the game is long overdue!
That’s why many Simmers are looking forward to the next chapter of The Sims and are wondering if the release date of the fifth generation (also known as “Project Rene”) is near and when it will come out.
So, when is The Sims 5 actually coming? And how long will it take before we can finally play it?
The honest answer is that EA and Maxis have not confirmed anything about this yet (as of 2023). In January 2023, Grant Rodiek (Game Director for Project Rene, which is The Sims 5’s working title) said that the game is “Years away”, so a release in 2023 doesn’t seem likely.
However, the next chapter of The Sims will likely come sooner rather than later. A release in 2024 or 2025 seems very likely.
Will Sims 5 be coming in 2023, 2024, or even later?
So, when is Sims 5 coming? As mentioned in the section above, a release in 2023 seems very unlikely. Will the game be coming in 2024, 2025, or even later?
Let’s dive a little bit deeper into these questions.
Many Simmers are wondering what the future of the franchise will look like. The good news is that we know that The Sims 5 is coming! Maxis is currently developing the game.
When looking at the release schedule of previous The Sims generations, there are usually about five years between each new installment. The table below demonstrates this.
The fourth generation of The Sims, The Sims 4, was introduced more than nine years ago. That’s a very long time for a Sims game.
Many fans are ready for the next chapter of The Sims. The Sims 4’s transition to free-to-play is just another sign that the fourth generation is gradually coming to an end.
| Generation | Release date (worldwide) | Days/months between generations |
| The Sims | February 4th, 2000 | |
| The Sims 2 | September 14th, 2004 | 4 years and 6 months (between The Sims 1 and 2) |
| The Sims 3 | June 2nd, 2009 | 4 years and 7 months (between The Sims 2 and 3) |
| The Sims 4 | September 2nd, 2014 | 5 years and 3 months (between The Sims 3 and 4) |
| The Sims 5 | Prediction: 2024 (not confirmed!) | 9 years and counting (between The Sims 4 and now) |
Even though it has been nine years since the release of The Sims 4, it is very unlikely that The Sims 5 will be launched in 2023.
You may be wondering why. It’s because there is usually a period of about six months up to a year between when the release date of an entirely new generation gets announced and when it actually becomes available to play through online and physical stores. At this moment, The Sims 5 has not yet been given a release date.
So, do we still have to wait years before the game comes to market? The answer is, unfortunately, yes.
How did we come to that conclusion?
The reason for this is that Grant Rodiek (Game Director for Project Rene, which is the working title for The Sims 5) stated in January 2023 that the next chapter of The Sims is still “Years away”.
That’s why we’re not expecting the game to come out in 2023.
Another thing to keep in mind is that in April 2022, Catharina Mallet (Vice President and General Manager of Maxis & The Sims Franchise) shared that The Sims 4 content will continue to be released for years to come.
During the October 2022 The Sims Summit livestream, Lyndsay Pearson (Vice President of Franchise Creative for The Sims at Maxis) also mentioned that “Today marks the start of our journey over the next few years. (…) Over the next couple of years, we’ll continue sharing updates with all of you on Project Rene.”
This, again, indicates that the fifth generation won’t be coming very soon, at least not in 2023.
So, how much longer do we have to wait until the next generation becomes available?
In 2024, The Sims 4 will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. It’s evident that the fourth generation has been overdue for a while. It could be that it was EA’s strategic decision to make The Sims 4 last for a decade.
Because of these factors, it’s likely that The Sims 5 will be announced or even released in 2024. 2024 is the perfect time to launch a brand-new game.
Besides that, we also know that EA and Maxis have already been working on a next-generation The Sims game for a longer period of time.
This became even clearer when EA and Maxis started inviting gamers to “playtesting” sessions in October 2022. This is where they get to test smaller bits of the game.
Developing an entirely new AAA title like The Sims 5 is a lengthy, complex process. We do know that the game is still in pre-production, so the team working on the game still has a lot of work to do.
If the fifth generation is going to be announced in 2023, a release date in 2024 seems very much possible.
If that’s not the case, it seems most likely that it will come out in 2025. Since the first Sims generation came out in February 2000, 2025 will be the 25th anniversary of The Sims. This might also be a good time to release the next chapter.
In the meantime, we have to wait for more details about when The Sims 5 will come out. EA and Maxis may announce more during game expos like EA, Gamescom, or EA Play Live. Several The Sims 4 packs were announced at these events before.
As we’re waiting for more news, we can expect some more teaser images, trailers, price details, and pre-order information to show up in the upcoming months and years. More details will probably be shared in upcoming Behind The Sims episodes as well.
And, of course, as soon as the release date is announced, we’ll put a countdown on this site!
For now, you can still play The Sims 4 while we’re waiting for the next installment to arrive.
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What is the release date for Sims 5 in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other markets?
As explained in the section above, there is currently no release date for The Sims 5 just yet. In January 2023, Grant Rodiek (Game Director for Project Rene, a.k.a. The Sims 5) disclosed that the game is still “Years away.”
However, a worldwide release in 2024 or 2025 seems highly probable!
Given that most games are now initially released digitally, the game may launch simultaneously in all markets, either at a set time or immediately after midnight on the launch day itself.
Release date North America, UK, Australia, and New Zealand
The Sims 5’s base game will most certainly be released somewhere in 2024 or 2025. Typically, English-speaking markets receive new Sims games first. These markets include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.
Release date European markets
The fifth generation is expected to hit the European market in 2024 or 2025. These markets include Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, and other markets.
Release date Asia, Africa, and Russia
Other markets, including Asia, Africa, and Russia may be getting the game later, in 2024 or 2025.
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Which editions can we expect when Sims 5 is launched?
Besides the Standard Edition of The Sims 5’s base game for PC and Mac, there will likely also be some other editions available to download.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, but there is a good chance there will be a Limited Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, Premium Edition, or Collector’s Edition, similar to the versions released for The Sims 4.
Besides that, we might also see an Ultimate Collection, Complete Collection, or some other full versions.
Each edition will come with unique extras and bonuses. This could include new gameplay, items, or other features.
We will share more information about the different editions on this site as soon as we have more information.
What are the release dates for Sims 5 expansion packs?
You’re probably wondering when Sims 5 expansions will be released. Unfortunately, at this moment (2023), there has yet to be any official information about this. It’s also hard to answer this question, as expansions are usually getting released over a longer period of time.
As soon as The Sims 5’s base game is launched, which will probably be in 2024 or 2025, we expect the first add-ons to arrive a few months after that.
Expansions may come in different types, similar to those from The Sims 4. Besides big expansion packs, we may also be seeing game packs, stuff packs, and kits.
As soon as we have more details about upcoming expansion launch dates, we’ll definitely share them on this site.
Is Sims 5 officially confirmed?
So, has The Sims 5 officially been confirmed? The answer is yes!
After years of speculation and rumors, we finally have an official confirmation about the next iteration of The Sims. The game is officially under development.
Already back in January 2020, several hints appeared online that suggested that the fifth generation was being developed. EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, said in an interview that the company “Was thinking about a new The Sims generation.”
Wilson never mentioned The Sims 5 by name, so it was still a little uncertain. However, it was already pretty obvious to many Sims fans that he was referring to the fifth generation.
Fast forward to October 2022, we finally received an official confirmation about the upcoming new generation of The Sims.
During the Behind The Sims Summit livestream, Lyndsay Pearson (Vice President of Franchise Creative for The Sims at Maxis) finally shared the first details about “Project Rene”, which is the working title for The Sims 5.
Pearson said: “Today marks the start of our journey over the next few years. Our working title for this new generation is Project Rene.”
So yes, The Sims 5 is confirmed!
Is Sims 5 delayed?
Since the fourth generation, The Sims 4, has been out for over nine years, many Simmers wonder why it takes so long for the next installment to come out.
The typical lifespan of previous Sims generations was about four or five years on average, whereas The Sims 4 is getting close to its 10th anniversary.
Some people believe that COVID-19 had an impact on the development of the game. However, there has never been an official statement about this.
After the problems that happened when The Sims 4 came out and the failure of SimCity 2013, EA and Maxis definitely want to make sure the launch of the upcoming installment will be as smooth as possible.
As The Sims 5 will become a cross-platform, multiplayer game with online capabilities, there is a lot of pressure on the developers to deliver a fantastic experience for the Sims community.
Because of these things, the development of the next generation may take a little longer than expected.
Since EA is publicly listed on the stock exchange, it simply can’t afford to have another big failure. That would cost the company a lot of money, and investors also want to see a return on their investments.
Even though it’s difficult to determine for sure whether or not the next installment has been delayed, we’ve never seen any proof of this. For that reason, it’s unlikely that The Sims 5 has been postponed.
Is Sims 5 canceled?
For years, there have been discussions about the future of the The Sims franchise. One of the topics that keeps coming back often is whether The Sims 5 is canceled.
Back in 2014, former The Sims 4 Producer Grant Rodiek (also known as @SimGuruGrant, now Game Director for Project Rene, which is The Sims 5’s working title) shared a rather remarkable post on the official The Sims forums. This is what he said back in 2014:
“We’re not working on Sims 5. We’re not thinking about Sims 5. If Sims 4 isn’t successful, there won’t be a Sims 5.”
— Grant Rodiek, former Producer of The Sims 4 at Maxis
This post sparked a lot of uproar in the Sims community. Rodiek’s message was taken down from the official forums after all of the commotion it caused among Sims fans. However, his post can be traced back through Wayback Machine.
Even after the post was removed, the discussion continued for a long time.
As a result, many gamers were questioning whether or not The Sims 4 was a flop.
Now that The Sims 4 is more than nine years old, it’s very clear that the game didn’t become a failure. Instead, the game has actually become a massive success in terms of sales and active players.
In 2019, EA shared that the fourth generation of The Sims exceeded over $1 billion USD in lifetime revenue. That was a major achievement!
According to The Washington Post in 2020, The Sims 4 attracted a total of 20 million unique players. Later in 2020, EA themselves talked about 30 million daily, weekly, and monthly active players.
Based on these numbers, The Sims 4 definitely didn’t become a flop. On the contrary, the buzz around the game appears to be going strong.
Even now, more than nine years after the base game’s release, new expansion packs are constantly being added. This also suggests that the fourth generation is still doing well.
So, to answer whether The Sims 5 was or will be canceled, the answer is definitely no!
In October 2022, Lyndsay Pearson (Vice President of Franchise Creative for The Sims at Maxis) confirmed that the next iteration is actually in the works.
On which platforms will Sims 5 be released?
On which devices can The Sims 5 be played once it’s available? That’s one of the most frequently asked questions about the upcoming game.
Rumors about this have been floating around the internet for years. Already in January 2020, Andrew Wilson (CEO of EA) talked about a possible cross-platform experience in the next generation of The Sims.
More recently, in October 2022, Lyndsay Pearson (Vice President of Franchise Creative for The Sims at Maxis) finally confirmed the first details about the cross-platform functionalities. Together with that, Pearson revealed that the game will be coming to PC and mobile.
Now that PC is confirmed, devices with Windows 11 will likely support the game, and possibly Windows 10 devices as well. However, the upcoming game may not work on older versions of Windows because it may require more recent software.
The latest Windows-based laptops and desktop computers with high specs from brands like Acer, Alienware, ASUS, Dell, GIGABYTE, HP, Lenovo, MEDION, Microsoft, MSI, Samsung, and others will probably be able to run the game. In addition, Linux-based devices may also be supported.
At this moment, there is no confirmation about Mac (MacOS) devices yet. However, since the fourth generation of The Sims was supported by the latest MacBooks and iMacs from Apple, we expect that The Sims 5 will also work on the latest MacBooks and iMacs with high specs.
It’s also already clear that the fifth generation can be played on mobile, so we expect the game to be supported by high-end Android smartphones and iPhones with iOS. Android smartphone brands include ASUS, Google Pixel, LG, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, Samsung, Xiaomi, and more.
There is also a good chance that the game can run on the latest Android tablets and iPads with high specs. Chromebooks may also be supported.
Even though nothing official has been said about possible console releases, the game will likely come out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and maybe even Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Steam Deck may also be supported.
It’s very unlikely that older consoles will support the fifth generation, so the game will probably not be coming to PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox One, or Xbox 360.
Do you intend to purchase a new laptop, tablet, or smartphone? Do you want to know if it can run The Sims 5 smoothly? Then we suggest waiting until the game’s minimum system requirements have been revealed. They have yet to be confirmed, but as soon as we know more, we’ll put it on this site.
Will there be a Sims 5 trial or demo version?
Before buying an entirely new game, it’s always good to try it out for a while. That’s why many Simmers are wondering if The Sims 5 will have a demo or trial version of any kind.
Currently (2023), nothing has been confirmed about a demo yet. We do know that EA and Maxis have invited a small group of players to early access “playtesting” sessions. This is where gamers get to play small parts of an early-in-development version of the fifth generation. All of this is done in a beta-testing environment.
Looking back at The Sims 4, we know that there was a free demo for Create A Sim (CAS). The Sims 3 even had a full demo of the base game, as well as a demo of Create A Pet (CAP). With these demos, players could preview the game before purchasing it.
Based on this, we’re also expecting a demo or trial version of The Sims 5’s base game. This may be a CAS demo or even a demo of the full game.
Did you know that you can sign up to be part of the playtesting team? This way, you can get a sneak peek at the game.
Simply visit EA’s playtesting site, sign up, and log in to your EA account. Follow the instructions for a chance to be invited so you can get a sneak preview of the forthcoming chapter of The Sims.
As soon as we know more about possible demos, we’ll definitely share them with you here on the site.
What will happen to Sims 4 when Sims 5 comes out?
The Sims 4 was released more than nine years ago, and most of the most-wanted expansion packs have already been launched.
Now that the fifth generation is on its way, many Sims fans are wondering what will happen to the fourth generation when The Sims 5 is released.
The good news is that you can still play The Sims 4 after The Sims 5’s launch. The Sims 4 will probably receive some patches after that, so it can still be played in the years after the fifth generation becomes available.
There is also a good chance that EA and Maxis will continue to add new content or packs to The Sims 5 after it comes out. This also happened with The Sims 3, which got several patches and content updates after The Sims 4 came out.
Furthermore, Catharina Mallet (Vice President and General Manager of Maxis & The Sims Franchise) said in April 2022: “As we look towards our future, continuing to create entertaining and unexpected content for The Sims 4 for years to come while also building the future of The Sims franchise, we want to hear from all kinds of voices.”
This shows that The Sims 4 will keep going for some time.
Eventually, the fourth generation will come to an end, and no new patches and expansions will be made any longer. That doesn’t mean that The Sims 4 can’t be played any longer, but it could mean that some problems won’t be fixed after that.
At some point, The Sims 5 will become the main focus for EA and Maxis. The Sims 4 will then slowly fade into the background for good.
Where can I get Sims 5 once it’s available (for pre-order or after the release)
Are you wondering how to get The Sims 5 after its release? Even though we don’t have all the official details yet, we can already tell you some interesting things about what to expect!
The Sims 5’s base game will most likely become available as a digital download on multiple platforms, including the EA app (EA’s game platform), EA Play (EA’s subscription service), and Steam (a third-party game platform by Valve).
This is where you can purchase and download the game. However, besides these platforms, you will probably also be able to buy the game on other third-party platforms. These platforms include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and numerous others.
There is also a chance that CD key sites will be selling Sims 5 games.
Aside from The Sims 5’s base game, there may also be other editions and expansion packs, which will probably also be available through most of the platforms listed above.
We’ll share more details on this site as soon as pre-ordering is possible. Feel free to sign up for the free newsletter, so you’ll get a notification about upcoming releases.
How to prepare for the release of Sims 5: best tips and tricks
There is still some time before the next generation is launched, so now would be a good time to start getting ready for it.
Firstly, it’s good to know if your current laptop or desktop computer is capable of running the next generation. While we don’t have access to the official system requirements just yet, we can already estimate what they will look like based on previous The Sims games. We’ve listed them on the Sims 5 system specs page. Specs for mobile, console, and other platforms will be added later on.
Does your computer not meet the minimum requirements? Then it may be a good time to upgrade to a new device. However, we strongly suggest waiting until EA and Maxis have confirmed the final specs.
If your current computer is capable of running the game, it would be good to check if it has enough storage space available. Keep at least 30 GB of storage space available for The Sims 5’s base game.
Lastly, it’s good to read up on the latest developments of this upcoming game. We will, of course, be sharing them on this site, but you can also join the Sims 5 Facebook Community so you don’t miss anything.
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Some sites and people say that Sims 5 is already available. Is this true or not?
If you ask Google questions like “Is Sims 5 out yet?” and “How do I download Sims 5”, you will come across many results that say the game is already out and can be downloaded.
On YouTube, you can also find a lot of fake game trailers that show fake video clips made with other 3D design programs, AI tools, or other software.
But the reality is that the fifth generation isn’t available yet. The game has yet to be launched, and its release is still years away.
In other words, you shouldn’t believe any of these sources. Never click a download button, and stay away from Torrents, leaks, and cracks, as they might harm your computer with viruses and malware. The Sims 5 probably won’t be free for the first few years after its release.
Some sites or people say they already know when the game will come out. However, the truth is that this has not been confirmed either. Instant Gaming, for example, claims that the fifth generation is scheduled for release in 2023, but this is just speculation because EA or Maxis have never confirmed this.
There have also been messages about Best Buy. According to certain individuals, the game will allegedly be available for pre-order in November 2023. This is most likely based on rumors as well.
So to sum it up, be wary of any “official” release dates or game downloads you may encounter.
Will Sims 5 be released as a physical game or digitally?
These days, most games are only available in digital format. As a result, physical copies, including a hardcover box and CD/DVD, are becoming less common.
This trend started many years ago and will continue in the years to come. This is already clear with The Sims 4, where most of the expansion packs can only be bought in digital format. Some games may still be available on disk, but this is very rare these days.
Because of this, it’s unlikely that physical copies of Sims 5 games for PC and Mac will be produced any longer. These days, EA and Maxis are primarily focusing on digital games. Digital versions are often cheaper and easier to get than physical games, which can be sold out in stores.
In the future, digital games can be bought from different sources. Aside from the EA app (EA’s game platform) and EA Play (EA’s subscription service), the game may also become available on Steam and other third-party platforms.
Other third-party platforms include Amazon, Best Buy, GameSpot, and CD key sites like MMOGA, CDKeys, Instant Gaming, Gamivo, CJS CD Keys, SCDKEY, Allkeyshop, Eneba, G2A, HRKGame, and others.
What is Project Rene, and how does it relate to Sims 5?
You may have heard the name “Project Rene” a lot lately. But what is it actually about?
Project Rene is the working title (or codename) for the next generation of The Sims, which will probably be called The Sims 5.
Rene stands for renewal, renaissance, and rebirth. These words represent the renewed commitment to the future of The Sims.
Did you know that before it was announced, The Sims 4 also had a working title? Some of you might remember “Project Olympus”, which became The Sims 4 in the end.
Poll: When do you think Sims 5 will be released?
We’d like to know when you think The Sims 5 will be released. Will it be in 2023, 2024, or perhaps even later? Vote below!
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