THE SIMS 4 SHOULDNT MISS OUT ON A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY IN 2025

As The Sims 4 continues down the live-service path, players can expect a number of new updates, paid DLCs, and features over the next few years. Even with the possibility of Project Rene coming down the pipeline, The Sims 4 will probably continue to evolve for the foreseeable future, as this sort of steady change is what the live-service model allows for.

There may be new competitors coming onto the scene, but The Sims 4 remains the predominant life-simulation experience. The prestige and near-ubiquitous brand recognition of the long-running Sims franchise is certainly a factor when it comes to compelling players to engage with The Sims 4, and its shift to the free-to-play model allows the game to have a broader reach than ever. Perceived shortcomings of the game are relevant and important to point out, but it is nevertheless a staple in modern, cozy gaming culture, and it's about time that EA and Maxis take the next logical step in making it even more accessible.

The Sims 4 Needs to Come to the Nintendo Switch in 2025

The Sims 4's Absence On the Switch Is Odd

Nintendo's hybrid console is arguably the leading platform when it comes to the so-called 'cozy' gaming experiences offered in both proprietary games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and third-party hits like Stardew Valley. The micromanaging structure of these games' gameplay loops, coupled with their focus on customization and low-stakes scenarios, make them a natural fit for a handheld, as players can easily hop in for just a few minutes, whether at home or on the move, and take care of their in-game tasks. Indeed, it is often the preferred console for such cozy or life-simulation games, even when a player has access to other platforms.

So it's strange that the Switch has never gotten a port of The Sims 4. Of course, it's possible that the comparatively underpowered Nintendo console would struggle with The Sims 4 which, despite its modest graphical offerings, can wind up being quite taxing on a system's hardware, especially as players introduce new elements like additional Simoleons and grand structures, not to mention everything that comes with The Sims 4's myriad expansions. Still, it's probable that Switch players would accept a lower-spec version of The Sims 4, greatly expanding the game's install base and influence.

If The Sims 4 Skips the Switch, It Should Come to the Switch 2

Speculation continues to abound about the Nintendo Switch 2 successor, which is assumed to be a much more powerful version of Nintendo's existing handheld. Many rumors have suggested that this new console will hit the market either next year or in 2026, and its increased power would serve as a natural opening for some version of The Sims 4, which can already run on fairly modest laptops like Macbooks, which aren't designed with gaming in mind.

If this were to happen, then The Sims 4 could sit comfortably among the Switch's library of cozy, casual gaming experiences, likely even establishing dominance over them. Although it's not difficult to run The Sims 4 on a computer or even on last-gen consoles, there's a significant demographic of players who game exclusively on the Switch, which undoubtedly overlaps with The Sims 4's target demographic at many points. With new life sim competitors like InZOI coming onto the scene in the near future, Maxis and EA should seriously consider expanding The Sims 4's reach by putting it on one or both of Nintendo's systems, where it would be a natural fit.

2024-09-07T10:01:58Z dg43tfdfdgfd