The Sims 4 has sucked in 70 million players

That’s a lot of babies

Electronic Arts is celebrating the arrival of the 70 millionth player to The Sims 4. They’re attributing this to the recent Growing Together expansion, but I’m guessing it has more to do with the fact that The Sims 4 became free to play last October.

I wouldn’t assume it’s specifically because of The Sims 4 Growing Together, because that expansion sounds like hell to me. It adds the infant stage of development, taking place between newborn and toddler. That’s all I want: more baby. Whenever my husband plays, he always makes these massive families, and for large swathes of time, all I hear is a cacophony of childhood tantrums next to me.

On the plus side, it does sound like a significant addition to the formula; it’s just one that makes me instinctively clench my jaw.

I keep thinking that The Sims 4 is the only good thing that EA really does anymore. Then I remember that it has a bazillion expansions and DLC packs, with new ones dropping every month or so. Whoops, I nearly gave them some credit. I guess I’ll go back to pointing out that they have their own digital storefront, yet the original Sims title isn’t available, along with, like, 90% of Maxis’ simulation franchise.

If I’m being honest, making the base Sims 4 free was a good move, especially if they want to sell more expansions. It’s like what my local drug dealers and gambling lords all agree on: the first hit is free. Once you’ve got them hooked, then you start sucking them dry.

On the other hand, I do think that The Sims 4 is an excellent title after you’ve dumped all your life’s savings into it. I’m not being facetious there; it is a good game. I think it’s reasonable to like the game and hate the business model.