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The next Sims game is a cross-platform title dubbed 'Project Rene'
Developer Maxis also shed some light on what's coming to 'The Sims 4' and its mobile games.
‘The Sims 4’ will be free to play starting next month
Almost exactly eight years after first arriving on PC, The Sims 4 is going free to play.
'The Sims 4' will let players change their characters' sexual orientation
Maxis is working to add non-binary options.
'The Sims 4' players can now customize their characters' pronouns
EA and Maxis say it's a step toward making the game more inclusive.
EA points to growth for FIFA Ultimate Team, 'Apex Legends' and 'Sims 4'
EA focused on its Live Services growth across games like 'Apex Legends' 'FIFA Ultimate Team' and 'The Sims 4.' Execs also pointed to a new Battlefield title on the way, and plans for more Star Wars.
12 Sims players will compete for $100,000 on a TBS game show
'The Sims Spark'd' will premiere on July 17th.
Watch EA Play Live with us starting at 6:40PM ET
'Star Wars: Squadrons' and a new game from Hazelight are on the docket.
The next ‘Sims 4’ expansion is all about sustainable living
A new sustainability-focused expansion pack is coming to The Sims 4 on June 5th.
Project xCloud adds a few EA titles including 'The Sims 4'
Microsoft is adding a few EA games to the Project xCloud game streaming preview: 'Dragon Age: Inquisition,' 'Unravel Two' and 'The Sims 4.'
'Apex' crosses 70 million players as EA focuses on 'live services'
Other than the news that NBA Live will take the 19/20 season off, EA's quarterly earnings call reported revenue is up from last year, thanks largely to the games it's published as "live services." Those are the ones where it's continually rolling out updates to keep people playing longer, and paying for additional cosmetic content or expansions. While that includes the disappointment that was Anthem -- only mentioned once in prepared remarks (PDF) -- the company has found success with hits like Apex Legends, which announced it now has over 70 million players, as well as Ultimate Team features on its Madden, FIFA and NHL games.
EA's return to Steam starts with 'Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order'
In the near future, you'll be able to buy new EA games through Steam once again, and start them directly from Valve's launcher. The publisher is teaming up with the storefront to offer the EA Access service there as well. Their tie-up will get underway next month, when you'll be able to buy Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order through Steam. Respawn's take on the Star Wars universe is set to arrive November 15th and Steam pre-orders open today.
Watch EA's Play 2019 event in 19 minutes
E3 effectively began on June 8th with the start of EA's Play event, but we won't blame you if you missed out. With roughly three hours of game previews, that could have taken a large bite out of your weekend. Thankfully, you don't have to watch the whole thing to get a feel for what was new. We've compiled all the best bits of the Play presentation into an easier-to-digest 19-minute clip. And there's a lot to digest. Between Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplay, Apex Legends' second season, the reveal of FIFA 20 and updates on Battlefield V, Madden NFL 20 and The Sims 4, you'll know tons about EA's 2019 plans by the time everything is said and done.
Watch EA's pre-E3 Play event starting at 12:30PM Eastern
EA is about to kick off E3 in earnest with its pre-expo Play event, and it's unsurprisingly offering gamers a chance to tune in. The company is streaming Play starting at 12:30PM Eastern with a slew of news on the slate. You won't hear more about Anthem, but you can expect more news on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the second season of Apex Legends, as well as updates for Battlefield V and The Sims 4. Logically, you can expect to hear about EA Sports titles like FIFA 20 and Madden NFL 20. You'll find both the stream and the schedule below.
'The Sims 4' will stop supporting 32-bit PCs in June
We hope you weren't determined to run The Sims 4 on the same PC you had when it came out in 2014. The developers have warned that the life simulator will end support for 32-bit operating systems and non-Metal Macs in June 2019. Simply put, it's about "growing, improving and optimizing the game." And for Mac users, it's virtually necessary. Apple started deprecating OpenGL visuals as of macOS Mojave, and Metal is the only way EA can guarantee cutting-edge performance and features going forward.
Spend 48 hours torturing loved ones for free in The Sims 4
- EA's latest addition to its Origin Game Time vault is The Sims 4, meaning you can download it now and enjoy a free 48 hours of playing God. To do just that, get your godly ass to Origin. Those 48 hours are real-time rather than in-game, so unless you're planning an unadvised binge you won't get the full two days of free-ness. You can start the free time whenever you want, however, as the 48-hour countdown only begins after you launch the game for the first time. Also, if you later buy The Sims 4 then your Game Time progress does transfer over.
Sims 4 visits an Outdoor Retreat, jumps to Mac in February
Like all Sims entries, it's time for The Sims 4 to start spawning expansions, and the life simulation's first addition sees your virtual people taking a relaxing vacation in the pristine wilderness of Granite Falls. According to publisher EA, Sims can build camp, share ghost stories around the campfire and "uncover rare collectibles." You can find a full rundown of the new features found in the Outdoor Retreat expansion by visiting the developer's blog, or you can just buy it and check things out for yourself. Outdoor Retreat is now available from Origin for $20. While revealing the new expansion, EA also mentioned that The Sims 4 is coming to Mac. There's no specific release date nailed down just yet, but it should launch at some point in February. [Image: EA]
The Sims 4 update gets paid time off, adds holiday cheer
EA updated The Sims 4 this week, adding a significant amount of new content to the life simulation game. Your sims can now go after an athletic or business career like Hall of Famer or Business Tycoon and accrue paid time off for any of their occupations, plus they can take family leave from their jobs to celebrate new life entering their families. The developer also changed career objectives, cleaning out repetitive or overly specific goals and tweaking ones that were too difficult to complete. The update also introduces the free, downloadable Holiday Celebration Pack, which adds a wreath, snowman, holiday decorations and festive sweaters to the game. Additionally, sims are now able to eat the fruits and vegetables they harvest from gardening activities, and can also die at venues. EA also fixed a few game-crashing bugs and other issues, such as a crash that occurred when players tried placing roofs away from their lot. Head to The Sims 4's patch notes page to see the full list of changes. [Image: EA]
'Accidental' drownings skyrocket as The Sims 4 adds pools
Making good on its earlier promises, developer Maxis has added much-requested swimming pools to virtual life sandbox The Sims 4. According to EA, the build options for pools have been greatly expanded, allowing players to build pools not just in the backyard, but also on the second and third floors of their virtual homes. The update also brings with it a new swimwear line so that your virtual people can look sharp as they lounge near the water. Eventually, all Sims players develop a sadistic streak and decide that maybe the Sim universe would be better off if their virtual people met a watery demise. The pool comes in handy there too, though EA notes that any ghosts created by drowning may carry a fear of water with them to the afterlife. It's unknown how this might affect a ghost's actions beyond the terrifying spectral neuroses seen in the above screenshot. [Image: EA]
Working As Intended: But I already have that game
Back in 2001, I desperately wanted out of EverQuest. I hated the gameplay. I hated the community. I loved my guildies, but I hated what our guild was becoming, consumed by a grindy rat race so different from our roots in Ultima Online. When Dark Age of Camelot offered a way out, I took it, dragging as many guildies as I could along with me to a game where PvP and territory control, not camp checks and plane raids, ruled the day. Some of them didn't come with us, and I couldn't understand why they wouldn't jump at the chance to start fresh, to be rid of a self-destructive community and gear grind. What was wrong with them, I wondered, that they'd stay in some old thing rather than play the new shiny? Dozens upon dozens of MMOs later, I finally understand: They already had that game.
Joystiq Weekly: The Cryptarch grows a heart, Alien: Isolation review, N64 turns 18 and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. Between the Nintendo 64's birthday and the Pokemon TCG iPad app reminding us that our childhood card games no longer have to be played with expensive, holographic pieces of paper, we're teetering toward a slight meltdown. When did we swap out our trapper keepers for a stack of bills? Why did we have to give up Saturday morning cartoons, again? What do you mean there's more to save up for in life beyond booster packs and video games? Sorry, we'll do our best to get a grip. This week brought more than a halting reminder of time's unstoppable march, though! Bungie tweaked a few loot-related settings in Destiny, we reviewed Alien: Isolation, Skylanders Trap Team and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, and we explored the weirdest stages of the N64's now-adult life. Those stories and more are waiting for you after the break!
