An announcement for The Sims 3 players on Mac

Sul sul Simmers!

As you will have heard by now, we will get the 64-bit & Metal version of The Sims 3 very soon - on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020, to be precise.

Those are great news - but you might also have some questions. That is why we have put together some FAQs that will hopefully help you.
Should you still have questions, you can drop them in @puzzlezaddict's thread here. :)

And now, with no further ado, let's get to it!


The Sims 3 (64-Bit & Metal) FAQ

I already own The Sims 3 on Mac, how do I get the new 64-bit version?
The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit will automatically be applied to your EA Account and available to install from My Library at no additional cost.

I plan to purchase The Sims 3, which versions will I get?
Purchasing The Sims 3 through Origin will provide you access to previously existing versions on Windows PC and Mac as well as the new version for macOS.

I own The Sims 3 on disc, how do I get the new version?
To get the new version of The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit, you will need to register your game with EA and download the 64-bit version of The Sims 3 from Origin. You can register your game and packs at www.thesims3.com by logging in with the same account you use with Origin (EA Help). For any registration or account related issues, please contact EA Support by visiting https://help.ea.com/contact-us

I already registered The Sims 3 on the website but I don’t see it in Origin, what do I do?
If you have already registered The Sims 3 and any packs on www.thesims3.com but do not see it in My Library in Origin, ensure you log in to Origin using the same email and password you use on www.thesims3.com. The same applies for using The Sims 3 website, login using the same details you use in Origin to see all of your owned content. Do not try to re-register your code in Origin or on the website as it will inform you that the code has already been redeemed since it is already applied to your EA Account. For any registration or account related issues, please contact EA Support by visiting https://help.ea.com/contact-us

Is this a Remaster or Remake of The Sims 3?
This new version is a compatibility release which adds support for 64-bit, Apple’s Metal graphics API, and makes the application a fully native macOS app. It is not a Remaster or Remake of The Sims 3.

Is changing from 32-bit to 64-bit the only thing that has changed?
No. This update of The Sims 3 also switches from OpenGL to Apple’s Metal graphics API, changes significantly how data is managed with the game service, where files are stored within the macOS file system, and has been updated to be a native macOS application.

Will the new version of The Sims 3 on Mac be delivered as an update?
No, due to the changes, The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit is seen as a different game by Origin. That means you will need to install rather than update.

I have Save Game files, can I continue my progress in the new version?
Your Save Game files are compatible with the new version of The Sims 3 and you will be able to continue where you left off. Before uninstalling any version of The Sims 3, we always recommend backing up your Save Game files.

Can I go back to the old version of The Sims 3?
Yes, if your macOS supports 32-bit applications (support for 32-bit was dropped by macOS in the Catalina release in 2019, but earlier versions of macOS that still support 32-bit applications might still run on your Macintosh), you can install either release of The Sims 3 from My Game Library in Origin. However, if you have macOS Catalina (10.15.x, released in 2019) or later, which only supports 64-bit applications, you will only be able to use the new release of the game.

Can I install the older macOS version and the new macOS version together?
No, you will only be able to have one version of The Sims 3 installed at a time.

I own both a new and an old Mac, can I still play on both?
Yes, in My Library you will see both the older and newer versions of The Sims 3. Simply install the version of the game which suits the Mac you are using.

I have The Sims 3 DLC and/or content from The Sims 3 Store. Do I need to re-purchase them if I use the new version?
No, all of your existing packs, Worlds and purchases from The Sims 3 Store stay with you. To install your Packs, you will need to download them once you have installed the new version of The Sims 3. You can do this by selecting The Sims 3 (64-bit & Metal) from My Game Library in Origin and selecting each Pack type and clicking the Download button. For content purchased from The Sims 3 Store, login at TheSims3.com and go to Store > My Store Account > Purchase History and you will see your purchases ready for download.

I want to use the new version of The Sims 3 on my Mac. What specs do I need?
You will need a Mac which has support for Apple’s Metal graphics API and be on macOS High Sierra (10.13.x, released in 2017) or later. For Minimum and Recommended specs, you can find them listed below and on The Sims 3 (64-bit & Metal) page on Origin.com.

MAC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM SPECS:
OS: Metal required. macOS® X 10.13 (High Sierra)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz Processor or better
RAM: At least 4 GB RAM
HARD DRIVE: At least 15 GB of free space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680, AMD Radeon RX 560, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 or better
INPUT: Keyboard and Mouse
ONLINE REQUIREMENTS: Internet connection required for product activation.

RECOMMENDED SPECS:
OS: macOS® X 10.13 or later
PROCESSOR: Intel Core i5 or better
VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680, AMD Radeon RX 560, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 or better
MEMORY: 8GB RAM
HARD DRIVE: 18 GB of Hard Drive space

Apple has recently announced that the Mac platform is moving to ARM based CPUs. Is this release of The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit optimized for this new architecture?
This release of The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit is optimized for macOS running on Intel x86 CPUs. It is not optimized for the Apple ARM CPU architecture.

I don’t want to see two versions of The Sims 3 in My Game Library, what can I do?
If you want to keep your My Game Library tidy, you can hide the version of The Sims 3 which you do not use by highlighting The Sims 3 and right click and select Hide. You can view your hidden games at any time and unhide them where necessary by using the Hidden Games filter in My Game Library.

When will The Sims 3 for Windows be updated to 64-bit?
The Sims 3 for Windows PC works on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. We do recommend players on The Sims 3 version 1.67 or earlier update to version 1.69, which is available to download through Origin if you have registered your game and packs against your EA Account.