The focus of the game is on the simulated lives of virtual people called 'Sims', and the player is responsible for directing their actions, attending to their 'needs', and helping them attain their desires.

There is no primary objective or goal to achieve, and instead of fulfilling objectives, the player is encouraged to make choices and engage fully in an interactive environment. The Sims 4 is a social simulation game, similar to preceding titles in the series. Free content updates introducing and expanding major features have also been released, such as swimming pools, more character customization options, more building tools, and gameplay scenarios. The most recent expansion pack, The Sims 4: Growing Together, was released on March 16, 2023. Development of the game has been supported with numerous paid downloadable content packs, namely twelve expansion packs, twelve game packs, and several stuff packs and kits.

The Sims 4 has been commercially successful, topping the all-format video game chart in 2014, and has received 36 million players worldwide as of 2021. The Sims 4 received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release, who praised the game's visual design, improved AI simulation for Sims, and the simplified building tools, but criticized the lack of content compared to prior The Sims titles, frequent loading screens, and missing features. In the months leading up to the game's release, Maxis revealed that several features present in prior The Sims main titles would be omitted at launch, citing insufficient development time and technical complexity this was received negatively by players. The game introduces a newly developed custom game engine, with improved character creation and housebuilding tools, as well as deeper in-game simulation with the new emotion and personality systems for Sims.ĭevelopment of The Sims 4 began as an online multiplayer title, but plans were shifted to a single-player experience following the negative launch reception of Maxis' SimCity in 2013. Like previous titles in the series, The Sims 4 allows players to create and dress characters called 'Sims', build and furnish houses for them, and simulate their everyday lives. The game was moved to a free-to-play model on October 18, 2022, monetized by the purchase of various paid downloadable content packs that have been developed since its release.

The game was released in North America on September 2, 2014, for Windows, an OS X version was released in February 2015, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in November 2017. It is the fourth major title in The Sims series, and is the sequel to The Sims 3 (2009). The Sims 4 is a social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts.

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