Summary
The Sims 5, codenamedProject Reneby developer Maxxis and publisher EA, will be entering a much more crowded market than its predecessors. The cozy life-simulation genre has garnered quite a bit of attention in recent years, and there are a number of direct and tertiary competitors that could rivalThe Sims 5for its throne. In light of this, Maxxis will have to evolve and innovate with the next chapter of its leading series.
There have beenrumors thatThe Sims 5has been canceled, but this has not been confirmed by Maxxis or EA. The project is generally shrouded in mystery, though it can be assumed thatThe Simsas a franchise will continue.
The number ofThe Simscompetitors on the market right now is myriad, with notable titles including the independently developedStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossing, which is arguably at the height of its popularity. These games are, of course, not exactly likeThe Sims, as precious few studios have tried to take an honest crack atThe Sims' formula, as evidenced bythe recently canceledLife By You, which many expected to be a worthy competitor toThe Sims. Nevertheless, the other, more objective-based life sims and live services of the past few years could conceivably detract fromThe Sims 5’s success, and Maxxis would be wise to learn from them in at least one major area.
Seasonal Events Would Gel with The Sims' Formula
The real-time changing of the seasons is something of a staple in theAnimal Crossingseries, with games likeStardew ValleyandHarvest Moonhaving seasonal events that correlate to their in-game clock. Seasonal holidays based on real-world celebrations like Thanksgiving and Christmas will then commence, which helps to elevate the sense that these games exist in their own universe, subject to its own set of dynamic natural and social rules.
The Sims 4does have seasons, but it’s tied to the Seasons DLC, naturally limiting access to this content. Once Seasons is installed, it can be a fun, new way to engage with the game, but it’s more like an extra set of tools for the player to experiment with than an organic, baked-in part of the experience. As the series evolves, either with an entirely new entry or with something less ceremonious, like a major expansion, it should double down on this seasons-based content, elevating immersion and creating a more layered experience.
Real-Time Seasons Feel Like a Good Fit for The Sims' New Live-Service Approach
Ever since going fully free-to-play a few years ago,The Sims 4has received a bevy of major updates. This has helped the game feel fresh and ever-changing, even a decade after its initial release. ThoughThe Sims 4was not initially sold as a live-service experience, its transformation into one is more or less complete at this point.
The Sims' new identity as a proper live-service franchise, combined with its fundamental design elements, makes it a natural fit for real-timeseasonal events akin to those found in games likeAnimal Crossing. For example, if a player boots upThe Sims 5in the middle of November, it would be fitting to see red leaves on the in-game trees, or decorations for a Thanksgiving-inspired in-game event.
Aside from being interesting and novel for players to experience these seasons in-game, as in real life, this design choice could synergize with Maxxis and EA’s goals for the series. Assuming thatThe Sims 5will continue to be a live-service title, it will need to retain players over time, and incentivizing gameplay during specific times of year would be a reasonable path toward solidifying this retention.
