Re: [FAQ] Why don't my expansion packs transfer between platforms?

@islaaaa11  That's so sad that after you've paid for TS4 and add-ons, that you can't log into your EA account on a PC or Mac and just have access to them. I've never played TS4 on console, so never knew of this issue before reading about it. I bought all my add-ons on PC, I have also played on iMac and had all my packs available. I don't know how much you paid for your packs altogether, but this is a major problem, it's very disappointing. TS4 has the most packs of any Sims game, I think all the packs at full price are over a grand if you bought them all. I've never played TS4 on console, but I imagine it's the same price for a console purchase as it is for a PC, or Mac purchase. This is simply out of touch.

As if a customer can pay for their packs twice, why should they even have too? I would like to understand why a console player can't play on PC with packs they bought on console, or vice versa. They're purchases that they bought with their account. This should be looked into. 🤨

@islaaaa11 You're very welcome! ❤

I hope there is some resolution to this issue some day, I would've been so disappointed if when I bought some packs on one device, I couldn't play them on another. It's the same to me IMO. Console or PC you've paid money for the packs. I believe you should have access to them after paying for them, whether on a Mac, PC or console. ✿

@islaaaa11   Hi!  I play on PC and totally agree with you and @Mrs_K_Desormeaux that it's a travesty to have to buy the content again.  I believe that part of the problem is the licensing between the PC/Mac version and the console version.  Then there's probably also an issue of the formatting.  I imagine there's a difference in the code that governs how the game runs on console vs. desktop / laptop.  Unfortunately, I don't foresee TS4 being made available for cross-platform.  Perhaps the next generation (TS5?) will be different since they've been talking about being able to play / build / share with friends using mobile devices.  Perhaps they'll find a way to make that version cross-platform as well?  I'm not terribly optimistic about that but I guess time will tell.

@JonaO703 Yes, you're right about it probably being a licensing issue. 

Still yet again 40 USD or 34.99 GBP is expensive for a add-on, there's full games out there for that price. I can't help feeling that loyalty isn't being rewarded for PC or console players, they gave the customers that purchased TS4 before it went free to play; a free kit. Desert Luxe was the name, right? I mean they're going in the right direction with that, but I honestly think at this point, one free expansion (a stuff pack maybe) for those of us who've spent more than $100 on TS4 should've been the right choice, and would've impressed most players. I haven't used that kit at all. It was very disappointing, and gave me a idea of the content of kits, meaning I don't think I'll be buying any of them. And the price of around $5 is ridiculous for the content. IMO that particular kit should have been free in the first place. It was something for free at least, but seriously is lackluster.

I have to agree that I'm also not optimistic about TS5 either. I imagine it'll be as basic to start with as TS4, and then a myriad of expensive expansions will be released. I hope though that I'm  pleasantly surprised, and it's completely different. Hopefully the expansions will be full, maybe more expensive, but filled with content. Without contentless kits and small packs being released what feels like every week, but bigger packs being released around twice a year. I know I'm not the first to say this, most sims players would like that to be the case with TS5. and would've liked it to have been the case with TS4.   (✿.❛ ᴗ ❛.)ノ

I can kind of understand the difference for PC to console because of the format but the PS/Xbox situation really bothers me. I've had so many people switch consoles and then ask about their Sims packs and I've given them the "brace yourself for bad news face". They've been so gutted as I've explained they've lost it all unless they switch back at some point.

Then there's the person buying them a new console for Xmas or something and considering a different one. I spent weeks trying to explain it to the mother of a PS player who was insistent she wanted to get her daughter an Xbox. She couldn't get it that a kind gift would actually be really bad news as her daughter had so many Sims packs. In the end, because she bought the Xbox against my advice we had a frantic scramble in the sales and all pooled together to try and remember what packs she had so we could buy them and install them for Xmas day. So we could say ta daaaa, you've got a new console and some of your packs back!🎁😢

I totally understand.  When I started playing, I knew I would be playing on PC because I wanted to be able to use mods, but I decided to get TS4 for my PS4 a few weeks ago since they made it available for free.  I figured it was a good opportunity to try it out and have some frame of reference to help with console players' questions here.  I also ended up buying a bundle with Island Living (and a couple other packs I can't remember now lol).  However, I did feel sort of weird about it since I already have them all on PC.  I doubt I will buy any more packs for the PS4 (except for maybe Realm of Magic :-). 

Really, I think it all boils down to EA, Sony and Microsoft all getting their share.  It would likely be a big cut to their profits to enable cross-platform access.  I wonder if EA would ever consider at least offering a discount to their customers who want to play content they already own on a different platform.  It would probably go a long way toward improving customer satisfaction and building loyalty.

@JonaO703 Indeed. It all comes down to money and profits in the end, how sad is that.

@simsplayer818 That's so lovely that you tried to help your friend save her money and explained to her the pack issue. It's difficult for many people to understand the two aren't transferable, me included, but you aiding her I'm sure was a major help. And I imagine her daughter was thrilled with her present. Still, it's an absolute travesty that she didn't have access to the packs she had on her other console. Christmas is expensive enough, even without that problem. I think examples like yours show the sheer greed at play here. If the whole excuse of "well, it's different platforms, it certainly isn't about our profits"  If that really is the case then, the players, or parents of the player, should be receiving a gift card towards, or a redeemable code on each pack that they had on their previous console like @JonaO703 suggested, so they can download their purchased packs on their new one less of charge. Helping resolving problems like this. But sadly, I don't think that will ever be the case with many companies wanting a piece of the profits. 

I don't know who the CEOs of the said companies are, but I imagine they have a bunch of complaints about this in their E-mails. On that note, I know it sounds dramatic going to a CEO with a costumer complaint, but, when I can't get a resolution with the usual route, emailing the top of a company usually helps. If I was the company and read this, I'd give your friend a gift card, or even better, some money refunded for her troubles, or maybe  even some money off her next purchase? Which company wants be known for charging a mother again for items that she's already purchased once because of "red tape". Nobody wants that reputation for their company, right? Sorry I'm ranting a bit, Lol. It's just because your experience of this issue really exasperated me!   😒🙃 

Edit: I know it's a complicated issue. But I think this hasn't been looked into enough by EA. They could acknowledge it more in giving affected costumers benefits that outweigh the negatives. (✿◠‿◠)

@Mrs_K_Desormeaux    On one hand, I agree with you that capitalism can sometimes get a bit out of control.  On the other hand, I also try to think about all the people involved in creating, marketing, distributing, etc.  Companies are looking for profits for sure but they also have to pay their employees and provide benefits to retain them.  It's all part of the machine that drives costs that are ultimately imposed on the consumers.

I find as well that some people don't quite understand that downloaded content belongs to your user account and not your console. I often have to explain this to people. We're lucky to have a wealth of knowledge available to us here but a lot of players don't use this forum.

I've known people have their console taken by someone and they've immediately thought all of their games/add-ons are gone too until I've explained their games don't physically belong to the console. This was certainly what happened in the situation I've mentioned earlier as the PS had been taken and the Xbox was the replacement.

When we buy the add-ons I think a small banner would be useful as nobody researches T&C's fine print. Just a notice at checkout explaining the purchase is linked to your username and available on any Xbox but not transferable to a different brand or format. Just one sentence would do as this issue comes up a lot.