When Will The Sims 5 Release? It Won’t.
Electronic Arts has made it official: there will be no Sims 5. At least, not in the way longtime fans were expecting. After years of speculation, EA’s head of non-sports games, Laura Miele, confirmed that releasing a new base game would force players to abandon over a decade’s worth of content and creations. In her words, it would be a “bad idea for our community.” She’s not wrong.
The Sims 4 has over 85 content packs. Eleven years’ worth of expansions, game packs, stuff packs, kits, updates, and user-made creations. Asking players to start from scratch wouldn’t just be inconvenient. It would be insulting. EA seems to finally understand that.
A Smarter Way Forward
Instead of blowing everything up and calling it a sequel, EA is choosing to build on what they already have. The Sims 4 is here to stay, and not just as a legacy product. EA is actively investing in its future: improving its tech, adding new features, and expanding across platforms. The multiplayer project formerly known as Project Rene isn’t a replacement; it’s a companion experience. Think of it as a branch on the same tree, not a whole new forest.
This marks a shift in EA’s philosophy. Rather than pushing out a new numbered sequel every decade and hitting reset on everyone’s progress, they’re pivoting to a more sustainable model: one evolving ecosystem, with multiple ways to play. Whether you’re on PC, console, or mobile, single-player or multiplayer, EA wants you to feel like you’re still part of the same Sims world.
Why That Matters to Players Like Me
I’ve been a fan of The Sims for years, but I refused to invest in Sims 4. When Sims 3 gave way to Sims 4, everything broke. Content didn’t transfer. Mod support was reset. The new game felt half-finished, even with all the DLC they promised would “fix” it. I wasn’t falling for that again. Especially when I knew they were already working on the next one.
Now that EA has finally said it out loud, there is no Sims 5, I feel like I can let my guard down a little bit. I can start imagining what it might be like to actually play again. Not alone, but with my kids. Instead of designing them as characters, they could design themselves. We’d be in the same house, causing chaos together. I’m starting to smile thinking of the shenanigans they’d get into.
No Sequel, No Problem
Some longtime players have called for a hard reboot. And to be fair, The Sims 4 does show its age. There’s something encouraging about EA choosing to protect players’ time and money rather than chasing a clean slate. It’s not just practical. It’s respectful. That’s rare in this industry right now.
Let’s be honest: there’s been a flood of bad news in gaming lately. Studio closures. Layoffs. Broken promises. But this? This feels like a win. EA isn’t always known for doing right by players, but in this case, they are.
EA’s decision to abandon the idea of The Sims 5 in favor of expanding The Sims 4 signals a new era for the franchise. Instead of throwing away years of player progress, they’re choosing to build a future where your time and investment matter. That’s a surprisingly player-friendly move. One I didn’t think I’d ever see from them.
So no, The Sims 5 isn’t coming. Maybe that’s the best thing EA’s done in years.
