The game runs good on my end, it's the bugs that keep piling up that's a problem and lack of quality of life features, a lot of pretty basic requests still not being in the game too somehow. Like elevators, spiral staircases and cars.
What I think they should do however, is start releasing spin offs again. Sims games with a more specialised focus, and not be afraid to give those expansions either. Sims Medieval really should have had more than one expansion, it's crazy it did not get horses. They could let the spin offs run on Sims 4's engine, like Sims Medieval ran on Sims 3's engine.
EA holds a lot of big licenses that could combine really well with the sims. Star Wars and Mass Effect are both very big ones that would be very interesting to explore in a full dedicated sims game, with very different careers, more exciting active careers, and expansions would be nothing like the base sims series ever had. I would much rather see a Star wars Sims game or Mass Effect Sims game than another into the future expansion.
If not using a license, a different setting could also really shake things up, provide something sims players would love that no expansion can do. Not with sims always whipping out a cellphone. A sims game set in victorian times would be really great. Would allow for the fancy houses but also the western side of things, can toss in some steampunk stuff too and gothic horror is a good inspiration for occults too. Would be very different skills to develop, different jobs. And since this is the sims universe and not the real world, it can be free of racism, sexism and such.
Alternatively, giving people the sims medieval game that they truly wanted would be great too. While I really liked Sims Medieval, I think most people wanted to build their own castles, play whole families, have a class system of nobility and commoners, etc. It could still have some active jobs, but also skills to develop and all that. Expansions could add different Kingdoms, each region could have it's own ruler maybe, and there could be diplomacy, marriage alliances and such going on.
I have thought that spin-offs would be a good go to for them to work on. Separate from the Sims 4, so it has a fresh foundation to build upon. Seeing the constant demands for fairies and ideas regarding Occults in general, a spin-off that is completely dedicated to them would likely do well for the fantasy enthusiasts. "The Sims: Occults" - The "base game" of it would have a two or three of the basic occults with the minimum expected of them - like how aliens and mermaids are at the moment. It could have two or three worlds for those occults. Then expansion packs could introduce more of the occults with suitable worlds, game packs would flesh out the gameplay of each occult, stuff packs would allow you to get more stuff themed towards the occults that interest you.
This formula could be applied to medieval times. "The Sims: Medieval Times" - "base game" would have the basics in what one thinks of in terms of CAS and build/buy. It would sort of follow how the Sims 4 base game is in terms of providing jobs, aspirations, traits and the like, but they are focused on the time period. Then as noted... Expansion packs to introduce new kingdoms. Game packs to expand upon jobs, hobbies, fairs, market places... maybe add onto more mythical aspects. Stuff packs, of course, would cater to giving more items to accompany certain themes, blending in well with the certain styles and themes of the various kingdoms.
They could even do a sci-fi spin off for those interested in space, space travel, mad science and time travel. Aliens and Servos would really be expanded. The "base game" would have Aliens that look much like the ones we have now, better and inhabitable area of Sixam, futuristic CAS and build/buy. Expansion packs, meanwhile, could introduce other alien worlds, races and robot/AI. Each one could reflect various futuristic worlds seen in media. Game packs could fill in those rabbit holes we get when using the rocket ship. Wouldn't it be more fun to actually have you Sim do those rather than read about it? Some of the game packs could be like Strangerville. Stuff packs would be what they always are... stuff.
A new version of Castaways has been noted by others before. Off-the-grid living would be the norm. They could really put work into natural disaster gameplay challenge some have asked for and that sort of thing could lead to the chance of them winding up on a completely new island with its own story, people, customs and the like. Maybe they are even saved by a merperson and winds up discovering... OMG an underwater world they can explore?
