I own the Sims 3 in disc form from when it first came out, but I don't have any Expansion Packs. If I purchase one digitally in Origin, can I play the game without a disc? Right now, I can only play with a disc since the disc version requires it. Basically, since the most recent pack would be digital and the most recent disc is used, would I not need a disc at all anymore to play?

since it installs locally to your hard drive, you shouldn't need the CD unless you want to make a clean re-install or something. Keep it handy (and the serial code) but your downloads should run normally inside the original Sims game.

If I buy a Sims 3 Expansion Pack in Origin as a Download, can I play with out a disc even though the base game uses a disc?

19 Replies

Anonymous
13 years ago
I have disk versions and digital versions of the expansion packs. When playing the digital copies I just had my sims game disk that I last installed and it worked fine. You dont even need a disk at all though because it installs it onto your hardrive.
Proteus-846
13 years ago
So if I buy an Expansion Pack as a download, I won't need my disc anymore? (I'll still keep it obviously, but I don't want to bring it with me all the time)
Anonymous
13 years ago
since it installs locally to your hard drive, you shouldn't need the CD unless you want to make a clean re-install or something. Keep it handy (and the serial code) but your downloads should run normally inside the original Sims game.
Smeagol2008
13 years ago
excuse me... i dont think u understand unless i dont understand haha
so your saying the sims 3 even without expansion packs you can play the game without the disk? thats not so true at all... if u only have the sims 3 without expansion packs.. You Still Need The Disk to load the game out but u can take the disk oout after its loaded...
hes wondering if he buys an expansion pack from origin will he therefore still need the original sims 3 cd to still be able to run the game???
EA_Spectre
Community Admin
13 years ago
If you download the base game and your expansions from Origin (which you should be able to do once you registered your games) you won't need the disc anymore to play.
Anonymous
12 years ago
I have the base game, Night Life and Loft Stuff through Origin (thanks Humble Bundle!). Can I still install other EPs from disc and play through Origin?
rumbutter
Hero (Retired)
12 years ago
you can do both i have disks and digital downloads of the games so if for example your next gameyou buy is seasons disk you install it and play from the disk OR if you want you redeem the code on origin and download the digital version of your game instead
Anonymous
12 years ago
Excellent! Thanks for the info!
Anonymous
12 years ago
I haven't been able to play without a disk. I got an expansion pack and the base game on disk and two expansions from Origin. I've read that you have to uninstall the game from your laptop and redownload the digital version.
Anonymous
11 years ago
im confused... so if i buy the download i dont get a cd in the mail it goes staight into my computer?