Electronic Arts announced that a new The Sims game, simply titled The Sims Mobile, will soon arrive to iOS and Android devices.
The Sims franchise is still going strong, even after 17 years from the release of the original game. Much of the series's success is on the PC platform, and Electronic Arts may be looking to further expand the franchise's presence through The Sims Mobile.
The Sims Mobile For iOS And Android
The Sims Mobile will not be the first attempt of Electronic Arts to bring the franchise to mobile devices. In 2011, the publisher rolled out The Sims FreePlay, but it was very different from traditional The Sims games. Similar to most other freemium mobile titles, The Sims FreePlay revolved around actions that were carried out in real time.
There was also The Sims Social, which was initially released on Facebook before shutting down two years later. Like The Sims FreePlay, The Sims Social did not follow the popular formula of The Sims, where players can only control a single character instead of a whole family.
The Sims Mobile looks like it will more closely resemble the traditional The Sims experience. The game's launch trailer revealed that players will be able to create their own families and homes. Characters can be taken through succeeding generations, with progress requiring players to unlock the heirlooms of their characters. This can only be done by boosting their stats and achieving their career goals to be able to retire. These heirlooms can then unlock careers and hobbies for future generations, opening up possible experiences for new characters. The trailer also highlighted familiar features such as unlocking new jobs, leveling up skills, and building relationships.
The mobile game will be based on the "legacy challenge" of the latest major release in the franchise, The Sims 4. It will also come with social elements, such as allowing players to become best friends in the game with their best friends in real life.
The Sims 4 Still Going Strong
Electronic Arts is likely not positioning The Sims Mobile to supplant The Sims 4, but rather to support the dated but still popular PC and Mac game.
The Sims 4 was released for the PC in September 2014 and for the Mac in February 2015, but it is still expanding its user base. Electronic Arts recently revealed that the monthly active user base for The Sims 4 increased 33 percent compared to last year, which is not bad for a game that is turning three years old in a few months.
Players who would like to be notified once The Sims Mobile is available for download can head to the dedicated page for the game. There is an option to sign up for the game's newsletter, which should provide more details about The Sims Mobile as it prepares to launch.
The Sims was recently inducted to the World Video Game Hall of Fame 2016, alongside titles such as Grand Theft Auto III, The Legend of Zelda, The Oregon Trail, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
