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mate54's avatar
mate54
Hero+
3 years ago

SimCity 4 on EA App - Wrong version available for purchase

For years, SimCity 4 players on Origin (and, now, EA App), have had issues with receiving the wrong version of the game when buying it from EA. This has never been fixed, even though the correct version of the game already exists on EA App, but it is only accessible to a small number of players.

Here are some details to better explain this issue:

  • 1.1.641 is the latest version of the game which is what should be offered to everyone, but is not.
  • Buying the game on EA App, or getting it through an EA Play subscription, awards you version 1.1.610.
  • The only way to get version 1.1.641 on EA App is to register a disk copy packaged in 2008 (or later).
  • 1.1.610 cannot be patched by the player (even when using official patches), which means that it still has bugs and issues which got fixed in later patches. It also cannot run some popular Mods since they only support the fully patched version of the game.
  • EA App has both versions on the server available for download; whether you get the correct one depends on how you obtain the game (register a disk copy vs. buy on EA App).

When I purchased a disk copy of SimCity 4 in 2014, I registered my code on Origin and got version 1.1.641. Everything was great until a few days ago when the version changed. I suspect what happened was that my EA Play subscription updated the game to the "EA Play version" on its own, which means that I am now left with version 1.1.610 and the same issues other players have had for a long time.

It should be noted that Steam and GOG provide the latest version of SimCity 4 (1.1.641).

Here are some other reports mentioning this issue:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-SimCity-Games/I-can-t-install-EP1-Update-1-patcher-for-SimCity-4-Deluxe/m-p/8746225#M1369 

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-SimCity-Games/Sim-City-4-Deluxe-Not-Patching-On-Origin-With-Maxis-Patch-Fix/m-p/6237765#M1121 

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-SimCity-Games/SimCity-4-Origin-has-the-Wrong-Version/m-p/10337392#M1591 

6 Replies

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  • Peter780's avatar
    Peter780
    Rising Scout
    2 years ago

    Product: The EA app
    Platform:PC
    Error Report ID (learn how to create an Error Report ID in the sticky post)
    Which client functionality are you experiencing this bug with? Download Game
    When did this happen? (dd.mm.yy hh:mm) 05/29/2023
    Summarize your bug EA app downloads and installs an outdated version of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition, which is version 1.1.610, instead of the latest version, which is 1.1.641 offered by other digital platforms. The new version 1.1.641 is very important because it fixes critical bugs and security vulnerabilities that could put EA app users at risk of running outdated game versions.
    How often does the bug occur? Every time (100%)
    Steps: How can we find the bug ourselves? Download and install SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition
    What happens when the bug occurs? Version 1.1.610 is installed instead of the latest version 1.1.641 of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition
    What do you expect to see? I expect the EA app to install the latest version of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition, which is 1.1.641.

    ‌

    No additional information to add

  • mate54's avatar
    mate54
    Hero+
    2 years ago
    @Peter780 This has been an ongoing issue for years, and it still has not been fixed even though both versions exist on the server and are available for download. I have merged your thread with the one I created a while ago for this issue, so hopefully, it becomes more visible.
  • Peter780's avatar
    Peter780
    Rising Scout
    2 years ago

    Thanks a lot @mate54 I hope that this issue can be fixed because I am a huge fan of the SimCity series. The latest version of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition, which is version 1.1.641, is not just a small update, It has many security fixes for critical security vulnerabilities and other game breaking bugs. Therefore, running the outdated version 1.1.610 can put SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition and EA app users at risk.

  • Peter780's avatar
    Peter780
    Rising Scout
    2 years ago

    @ExuberantWitness  I have got in contact with the EA support team, and they have confirmed to me that the issue is now fixed and version 1.1.641, which is the latest version of SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition, is now installed using EA app. Can you please confirm that version 1.1.641 is installed for you too?

  • ExuberantWitnes's avatar
    ExuberantWitnes
    2 years ago

    @Peter780  I don't know what kind of black magic screwery you worked here, but after downloading the game just now, the exe does indeed say version 1.1.641 when hovering the cursor over it for a moment.

    Sadly, though, considering the precedent of them already having fixed it just to break it once again, we are left to wonder in concern how long will this fix last?

    I also wonder at the rationale behind this decision. Was it just incompetence, and error? Or was it something more insidious, like them wanting to sell a version that cannot be modded, thus it cannot be extended with free content made by the community, therefore pushing new customers to buy the new sim city if they want something more.

    Oh, well. Thank you so much to you and anyone else involved in this effort. Hopefully either you or someone else just as passionate and proactive is around for the next time they decide to screw their customers over.

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