Whenever EA puts out a game update, I don't update immediately and switch to playing offline for a week or more (depending on how bad it is) while I wait for mods to be updated and for the worst of the new bugs and glitches to be resolved. I've done this since the EA App was released without issue. So the EA App updated shortly before the 7/23 game update and when I went to play offline last night, I discovered I suddenly couldn't. I click on "go offline" and it shows Sims 4 as an installed game, but now when I click play, instead of launching the game offline as usual, I'm getting an error message telling me that the game license has expired and that I need to launch the game to renew the license and gives the Error Code: EC:204.I've never had this issue before. So now I cannot play the game at all as I've seen how lit it is out on the bug report forum and there's no way I'm updating my game right now with all the issues the patch has created. And I can't go "online" with the game without it automatically pushing the update.Is anyone else having this issue with playing offline right now? And is anyone aware of a work around? (Note: I have already logged out and back in, uninstalled and reinstalled the EA App, cleared the cache, restarted my PC, and ensured by XBox and EA accounts aren't linked (they never were).)

WHY WHY WHY Can't I play my Sims 4 Game THAT I PAID FOR OFFLINE I'm not ready to update and my internet is having issues going in and out, so I wanted to wait BUT This is Ridiculous. Im not computer friendly to go into things I don't know what I'm doing. So I need to understand from Ea is this how it is

Thank you. Yes, I did see that thread from last year and it's where I got the ideas for the things in my post that I already tried. It does look like the only thing that really fixed it back then was an update to the EA App from EA. Then, it seemed like an issue affecting a number of people so the issue got attention. But so far right now, I haven't seen anyone else posting that this is an issue for them.

Hey, so because of the huge bugs with the new patch, I want to play offline and not update until a bug fix is rolled out. This was fine for a few days after the patch came out, but now it won't let me continue playing offline.When searching through other threads, I saw people being asked if the license folder moved or copied when trying to move it to the desktop, so I'll add in now that it copies when drag dropping. I have to cut-paste for it to remove it. On starting up any other game (while online), it generates a new license for that game but obviously I can't launch TS4 online because the update is mandatory. Some of the licenses in that folder are dated 2022/23, and they all launch just fine - it is only TS4 that won't launch. By process of elimination, I believe it is "55482" dated 23-01-2025.Is there any way to resolve this without updating the game yet? I feel like being over £1000 deep into a game and expecting to be able to play offline for a while is a reasonable expectation😬

I know - beyond frustrating. If I bought a game outright and it's loaded locally on my PC, it shouldn't require a dysfunctional intermediary app that requires me to then then go online to play it. It's definitely NOT supposed to be this way. I think for some people, like it did last July, the update to the EA App caused a bug/glitch for some people - but not all. I'm sorry you're having the same issue as me, but it makes me feel ever so slightly better to know it isn't just me. I but a bug report ticket in on the bug reporting forum as well and it hasn't gotten any traction. I think it just keeps getting buried behind all of the new issues created by the game update. I can't even find my own report half the time - the search engine on there is just awful.

I have the same issue since MARCH! Nothing changed! The EC:204 error shows up after a new update is released (usually a couple days after). Then I'm forced to update the game to play it. I tried EVERYTHING, nothing worked. It's ridicolous

Error Code: EC:204 (can't play offline, says "game license has expired")

17 Replies

taraincognita
Rising Scout
11 months ago
I'm like you, I don't update until everything seems as resolved as these things tend to get and my mods are all updated. So far, I have had little problems with the app until today. It would not accept my password. I did all the usual stuff as you described but still had to reset password. Still getting that error message that my license has expired and I MUST go online?! What is the problem - like you said: I own this game, they got their money, so why insist that I update and play online? Ridiculous.
Update: Now that I changed password, seems EA has started this account all over. Claiming I have only two posts and 5 likes, which is not what it was. The threads they do indicate are ones I've never ever been in. I'm so sick of this BS.
Moskikat
Seasoned Vanguard
12 months ago
I have the same issue since MARCH! Nothing changed! The EC:204 error shows up after a new update is released (usually a couple days after). Then I'm forced to update the game to play it. I tried EVERYTHING, nothing worked. It's ridicolous
ChelleBelle716
Seasoned Veteran
2 years ago
If you can find my bug report on the bug reporting forum - click "Me too" so maybe it starts to get a little attention.
ChelleBelle716
Seasoned Veteran
2 years ago
I know - beyond frustrating. If I bought a game outright and it's loaded locally on my PC, it shouldn't require a dysfunctional intermediary app that requires me to then then go online to play it.
It's definitely NOT supposed to be this way. I think for some people, like it did last July, the update to the EA App caused a bug/glitch for some people - but not all. I'm sorry you're having the same issue as me, but it makes me feel ever so slightly better to know it isn't just me. I but a bug report ticket in on the bug reporting forum as well and it hasn't gotten any traction. I think it just keeps getting buried behind all of the new issues created by the game update. I can't even find my own report half the time - the search engine on there is just awful.
SW33TI3
Seasoned Newcomer
2 years ago
WHY WHY WHY Can't I play my Sims 4 Game THAT I PAID FOR OFFLINE I'm not ready to update and my internet is having issues going in and out, so I wanted to wait BUT This is Ridiculous. Im not computer friendly to go into things I don't know what I'm doing. So I need to understand from Ea is this how it is
ChelleBelle716
Seasoned Veteran
2 years ago
Thank you. Yes, I did see that thread from last year and it's where I got the ideas for the things in my post that I already tried. It does look like the only thing that really fixed it back then was an update to the EA App from EA. Then, it seemed like an issue affecting a number of people so the issue got attention. But so far right now, I haven't seen anyone else posting that this is an issue for them.
Bonxie_MCCC
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
Have a look at this Post from the AHQ regarding this error code:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Bug-Reports/RESOLVED-EA-app-Error-Code-EC-204/m-p/12707972/highlight/true#M30749
I hope, that this will help. Good look!

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Error Code: EC:204 (can't play offline, says "game license has expired")

17 Replies

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