The controversial paid mod marketplace recently added to The Sims 4 is apparently exceeding Electronic Arts’ expectations, according to a new report from Sims Community. It cited an anonymous “insider” who evidently also leaked accurate details about The Sims 4’s Marketplace and Maker Program before it was revealed to the public.
It’s not clear exactly what EA’s financial goals for The Sims 4 Marketplace are, and the source didn’t provide a specific number, but said that the paid mod marketplace “has so far exceeded EA’s expectations,” adding, “We don’t know what [those expectations] were, though.”
Earlier this month, details about a single-player The Sims title currently called Project X were leaked. It appears that Project X will feature individual neighborhoods that players must pay to unlock. According to Sims Community’s source, EA has seen the player response online and might be rethinking things.
“EA is aware of Project X leaking, and are overall not too happy with the community’s response,” the source said. “They’re holding discussions on whether some direction changes are necessary. Things like how maps and monetisation will work. ‘Who knows, though?’ was said by someone on the [development] team, if that gives you an idea of how often things are said and forgotten or not forgotten, etc.”
Overall, the future of The Sims is still unclear. EA still plans to support The Sims 4, but also says the franchise’s future “includes experiences across PC, console, and mobile.” The multiplayer Sims game currently known as Project Rene is still in development, but has shifted to a mobile-first approach. (Which, ironically, is exactly how The Sims 4 came to be.) Meanwhile, Project X has entered the fray, and while it seems to be closer to the single-player experience most long-time Simmers want, it seems The Sims’ rampant monetization tactics won’t be slowing down any time soon.