Re: Have Sims on Origin: Want to use my Steam Client: How do I link my account?

Any idea if a free epic game would work? Like Apex?

@joeygates27  Downloading Apex Legends through Steam would certainly link your accounts; you can see that in the terms and conditions on the right side of the Apex product pgae on Steam.  But the only way to "own" Sims 4 through Steam is to obtain a copy through Steam, either by buying it or by downloading it from the Steam version of EA Play, if it's offered.

Again though, playing Sims 4 through Steam has proven to be an extra hassle for many people.  It doesn't get rid of the Origin requirement, it doesn't come with an enhanced version of the game, and it introduces extra complications that could easily be avoided.

Yeah, the main reason for steam at all in this case is to allow for steam link to work. Sometimes steam link falters when you point at An Origin game with steam. I tried it both ways last night and Sims definitely starts more smoothly with it installed via Steam, and even opens up way faster. Whereas, if I point to Sims as it exists within origin, it will still work, but within the steam link, you will see it opening other windows and switching around until it gets to Sims in 15 to 30 seconds. Further, if you click anywhere while that's happening, sometimes the focus gets lost and it won't start up properly.

It did look like both seem to be working fine once the game was loaded, and it did seem like it referenced save files in the same location. I think to be safe I want to take off Cloud saves for Steam if that is automatically enabled because if I recall, Sims already handles that internally and backs up saves periodically. Thanks for your input. I think this is all set now and her account is linked. Only cost me $0.99 to get it installed appropriately. Hopefully now that it's linked, it will remain updated even though I don't have the subscription. We'll see.

@joeygates27  Yes, Origin and Steam installs both read the Sims 4 user folder in Documents\Electronic Arts.  The game doesn't automatically save though.  It does however keep the last five saves made before the current one, so if you ever need to revert to a backup, you can do so either from within the game or manually.  (Those are the .verx files within the saves folder.)  Older backups are deleted as newer ones are created.

@joeygates27  No, they really did not.  That's one of several reasons I suggest that people might want to reconsider before switching to a joint Origin/Steam install.  It's all kinds of awkward and often doesn't work properly no matter what people do.  It's too bad, this could have been a great opportunity.  I say that as someone who owns Sims 3 through Steam and happily uses that version rather than the one from Origin.

does this really work? 
My sims 4 wont work anymore via origin :/ IDK 
So i was thinking via Steam...

I tried everything xo 
This is kinda my last resort you see xo 

@leenjoan  Linking your Origin and Steam accounts won't help here, and buying Sims 4 through Steam could help but might not, depending on the nature of your issue.  But the easier troubleshooting step is to try playing through the EA App instead.  You can download it here:

https://www.ea.com/ea-app-beta

If that doesn't help, please let me know what happens when you try to run Sims 4, including any error message you get.

In macOS, you wouldn't be able to use the EA App or Steam, so let me know if you happen to have a Mac.

So does that mean it won't link if you had the free version of sims 4 on steam?

@sweetc77  Launching Sims 4 through Steam, even the free version, will prompt you to link your EA account.