Summary
The Simsis a game generally associated with relaxed, single-player content, butThe Sims 5will possibly feature a multiplayer component. It’s not clear what exactly this multiplayer component could look like, but developer Maxis shouldn’t be afraid to infuse thepotentially revolutionarySims 5with a competitive edge.
There’s reason to believe that EA has high hopes for the nextThe Simsgame. It’s been nearly a decade since the release ofThe Sims 4, and a number of other life simulation games have released in its wake. WhileThe Sims 4is still successful thanks to its vast assortment of post-launch content and enthusiastic fanbase, it is starting to feel a bit dated in some ways. It seems like the developers ofThe Simsare aware of this, going on record that the theme of the game’s development is “rebirth”; even the game’sdevelopment codenameProject Reneis believed to connect to this ambitious approach, as “Rene” could be referring to words like “renaissance”.
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The Sims 5 Can Strengthen Its Multiplayer Through Competitive Options
WhileThe Sims 4players can’t access any multiplayer options without the use of mods, comments from producer Grant Rodiek suggest that the team at Maxis is at least considering the inclusion of a multiplayer option. Very little information has been made available about how the team would approach this hypothetical multiplayer component, but Rodiek has expressed that Maxis isn’t interested in makingThe Sims 5an MMO.
Multiplayer could be a good way forThe Sims 5to compete with otherupcoming life sims likeLife By You, but it needs to be handled effectively. The function could wind up feeling lackluster if it only allows players to enter the game world of another player, with little to no agency within that world. Even if outside players can affect change within the world of the host player, some direction or objective would go a long way toward making multiplayer feel more like a worthwhile, enriching inclusion than a gimmick.
One way thatThe Sims 5could bolster its multiplayer component would be through in-game competition, which could further help the gamestand apart fromThe Sims 4. There’s plenty of potential in this concept, as players could perhaps race to complete a particular build, or even engage in aJackbox-style competition wherein other players can judge creations and vote on which is best. Scenarios could also offer multiplayer options, as players could attempt to find an object or complete a non-building goal. One could argue thatThe Simsformat offers a good stage for a lighthearted asymmetrical multiplayer mystery game similar toAmong Us. If Maxis wanted to push the envelope even further,The Sims 5could even let players customize their own challenges, offering a more relaxed version of a game likeMario Maker.
This approach could help convinceThe Sims 4playersto switch toThe Sims 5, as it would be a significant distinguishing factor. Long-running franchises, including some from EA itself, have faced criticism for recycling old content with new releases, but the expectations are arguably much higher forThe Simsdue to its popularity and the fact that it has been so long since its last full entry. On top of helping to setThe Sims 5apart from its predecessors, a competitive multiplayer feature would help the game distinguish itself from other life-sim games likeAnimal CrossingandStardew Valley, which have co-op multiplayer that lacks a competitive side.
The Sims 5is in development.
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