Hi guys, there has been an ongoing discussion on the Sims 4 forum about Apple’s new M1 Chip. Now I’m wondering, will Sims 3 work on the new MacBook Versions of Late 2020? Has anyone tried it so far?

@moinkindas and @jbd00 Yes, the game is compatible, and it runs fairly well. There are some unsightly pink lines around sims' UI portraits and on loading screens, and there may be an issue with blurry text. But the game itself is pretty stable and runs on high settings at high framerates.

@BaranaS4 If you search the Origin Store ('search games and more' option on the left side in the Origin client) can you search for the Sims 3 and see if you have an option for the 64-bit version of Sims 3 to install? Since you are on BigSur you are on a 64-bit operating system, and the older version of Sims 3 was meant for the 32-bit operating systems.

@AwesomeFelloww I don't actually know anything about Sims 2—I've never even owned it. But if you have any user content (saves, mods, whatever), try removing that and see whether it helps. You could just remove the entire Sims 2 folder in Documents > EA Games, or whichever folder within Documents has a Sims 2 folder inside. If that doesn't help, there's a Mac user who owns the Sims 2 Super Collection and posts in Other Sims Games, so you could ask there. https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-The-Sims-Games/bd-p/other-sims-games-en

I download the sims 3 and used the redeem code. everything went ok and I got an install option, I clicked on it but nothing happend. I see the game in my library but its not colourful and when I click on it I see no play button. I use macbook air 2019 and latest MacOs BigSur. I dont know why? can you please help me I got frustrated.

New Apple M1 Chip - is Sims 3 compatible?

11 Replies

jbd00
5 years ago
I was wondering the same!
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
5 years ago
@moinkindas and @jbd00 Yes, the game is compatible, and it runs fairly well. There are some unsightly pink lines around sims' UI portraits and on loading screens, and there may be an issue with blurry text. But the game itself is pretty stable and runs on high settings at high framerates.
BaranaS4
5 years ago
I download the sims 3 and used the redeem code. everything went ok and I got an install option, I clicked on it but nothing happend. I see the game in my library but its not colourful and when I click on it I see no play button. I use macbook air 2019 and latest MacOs BigSur. I dont know why? can you please help me I got frustrated.
EA_Illium
EA Staff (Retired)
5 years ago
@BaranaS4 If you search the Origin Store ('search games and more' option on the left side in the Origin client) can you search for the Sims 3 and see if you have an option for the 64-bit version of Sims 3 to install? Since you are on BigSur you are on a 64-bit operating system, and the older version of Sims 3 was meant for the 32-bit operating systems.
YkmLo
4 years ago
@EA_IlliumHi, I am using both Macbook Air m1 Monterey and Macbook Pro Intel Big Sur. On both of these laptops, in the origin library, the 64-bit version of The Sims 3 has some kind of white overlay like in the screenshot you posted. When opening the game details, I can't see any download/install button. I haven't downloaded the game before. Any idea how to solve this?
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
4 years ago
@YkmLo The issue is that you have an EA Play subscription: EA Play is only supported in Windows. Even when there's a Mac version of a given game, you still won't be able to use your subscription to play it in macOS. The solution is to cancel EA Play and buy a standalone copy of Sims 3.
YkmLo
4 years ago
Ah, got it! Thanks :D
AwesomeFelloww
4 years ago
@EA_Illium Sorry if this is a dead forum, but I just got a M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14in that I was going to play Sims 3 on. I got it from Origin, downloaded the only one it let me download (64-bit/Metal) and it came with High Loft stuff and Night Life. Installed it, booted it, splash page opens up, showing that it recognizes the expansions downloaded below so apparently no problem there. However, when I click the play button, an error saying..........
"Unable to start game
Your The Sims 3 Base Game is incompatible with the current Sims 3 Expansion Pack. Please update your game via the game launcher)

Can someone PLEASE assist? I'm getting nowhere quick with EA.
puzzlezaddict
Hero+
4 years ago
@AwesomeFelloww This is absolutely not a dead forum; it just doesn't get as much traffic as it used to now that the 64-bit Mac version installs properly.

Anyway, go into Document > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 and delete Version.tag, then test.
AwesomeFelloww
4 years ago
Holy sh---, that worked! THANK YOU!

Since I've got you here, what about if I'm facing the same issue with The Sims 2 - Super Collection on Mac? I downloaded that straight through the Mac App Store.