It looks like a new sequel is finally happening (pic: EA)

EA has confirmed it’s planning to make a new Sims game and that old school MMO The Sims Online will be a major influence.

When it comes to EA and sequels it usually isn’t a question of if but when. But given the troubled history of The Sims 4 it’s never been clear what EA intends to do with the series in the future.

It’s now seven years since the last numbered sequel came out and while there have been hints in EA job listings about a new game there’s been nothing concrete until now.

But in an investors call last week, EA exec Andrew Wilson was asked whether developer Maxis had any plans to relaunch an online versions of The Sims, referencing MMO The Sims Online, which ended its life being called EA-Land and was shut down in 2008.




According to a transcript from fansite Sims Community, Wilson replied by talking about The Sims for a ‘new generation’ and implied that a new game would combine elements of The Sims Online’ social interaction with the more traditional virtual dollhouse elements.

What he actually said was an almost incomprehensible stream of marketing doublespeak, which you can see below, but it’s clear he’s referring to a new product that would be either The Sims Online 2 or, more likely, The Sims 5.

‘As Maxis continues to think about The Sims for a new generation – cross-platforms and a cloud of a neighbourhood world, you should imagine while we will always stay true to our inspiration, escape, creation, self-improvement, motivations – that this notion of social interactions and competition like the kind of things that were actually present in The Sims Online many, many years ago – that they will start to become a part of The Sims experience in the years to come’, said Wilson.

‘We are very excited. This is a game that really doesn’t have any competition in its category for delivering and fulfilling these motivations for players and we think of the tremendous growth opportunities for us for many, many years to come.’

It’s worth pointing out that the use of ‘new generation’ likely has nothing to do with the next generation of consoles, but is instead a reference to The Sims franchise and new players.

Although there are console versions of many of The Sims games they usually only come out years after the PC version, and never tend to work as well.

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