Cannot play without Internet connection?

@TPMoriarty You should indeed be able to play offline, but Origin needs to be running in the background.

Could you try placing Origin in Offline mode while you have internet connection (you can do this in the top left hand corner of the client in Origin menu) and then try playing? If you then disconnect internet while Origin is already offline you should not have issues.

Let us know how you get on!

Hello Kristi,

Yes, I can play just fine that way.  No problems there.  It is only when the internet connection is down that I suddenly cannot play.  I can login to Origins while offline, but not play the games.

I have also noticed that when I have a good internet connection and play while offline that either Origin or the Sims is still accessing the internet.  When the internet connection is lost, the games will not play and I get the notice that they require Origin to run.

@TPMoriarty That is very weird! 

Could you try running a repair on both Sims 3 and Sims 4 to check then if the same happens? To repair the game, right click the base games tile in Origin client and select 'Repair Game' (you need to have internet connection to do this).

Let us know how you get on!

A little about my specs:

Windows 10 Home

Processor:  Intel Core i7-6700k cpu @ 4.0 GHz 4.1 Ghz

Ram:  16 GB

NVidia GeForce GTX 970

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling Origin, all games, all expansion packs and all stuff packs.  I have tried repairing them.  I have even wiped the computer clean and reinstalled everything again.  Still same problem.

@TPMoriarty When you 'wiped your computer' did you format and reinstall Windows, use system restore or did you uninstall all programs one by one?

I would recommend running thought the steps below to see if this helps resolve the issue while offline:

1. Manually uninstall Origin
2. Run CCleaner
3. Restart your router/modem and do a Clean Boot
4. Make sure that your UAC is enabled and set to notify
5. Download the latest version of Origin and install the client - make sure to run the setup file with Admin rights
6. Add firewall/antivirus exceptions for Origin and open the needed ports
7. When starting Origin, please make sure to run it as Administrator

(Please note that you need to have Origin running while playing even when offline.)

Let us know how you get on!

Formatted hard drives, reinstalled everything and I am running them as administrator.

Just got finished with the tech guy at Microsoft, he had some ideas, so gonna try them and will let you know how it goes.

Would be hilarious if this was a windows problem!

@TPMoriarty 🙂

Let us know what happens after you try the Microsoft suggestions!

Well, it has been over a year and I still cannot play without an internet connection.  EA/Maxis/Origin, whoever they are now, changed Sims 3 to require one.  So, even if you 'think' you are playing offline, you are not.  Evidently, there is truly no such thing as playing the Sims 3 or 4 when offline.  So, the option to play offline is a massive LIE.