This was my biggest fear of the Sims' future is to follow in SimCity's footsteps and why I joined forums because of what was implied, "There will be no Sims 5 if the Sims 4 does not sell well." I do agree at this point of time there is no reassurance that the Sims is going to continue the PC route and Sims 5 on PC may not be an option anymore. So at this point, why did I bother joining forums then and why bother supporting the Sims 4 even further or even the Sims Mobile if this is going to happen anyways. I mean I knew that the Sims 4 was not being worked on as much anymore and neither was the console version. I'm ok with there being console and mobile options for Simmers, but not at the expense of the PC market. At this point, I think it is a waste of time talking about the Sims anymore. Its future doesn't seem hopeful and might be a good opportunity for competition to come in if this is going to be the fate of the PC market for the game. Sure it won't be easy, but it wasn't for SimCity either. There is a high enough demand for the PC market for a life simulation game though that it would be foolish for any company not to miss that opportunity to fill it in the gaming industry in that genre. I do think the Sims Mobile does offer more mature gameplay, which is what Simmers have been begging for from the Sims 4 for years. So not sure if it was intentional to make the PC game lack and give what was lacking in the PC game into the mobile version. All I know is for now, there are rumors and until Gurus clarify it, we really don't know what the future of the Sims holds both for the game and the company.
But not like the Sims 4 isn't profitable right now. From EA investors, "Live services net bookings were up 39% year on year, to $787 million. The increase was driven by Ultimate Team and The Sims 4. This was a record for the third quarter."
White the mobile division says, "Mobile delivered net bookings of $183 million, up 5% year on year, also a record for the
third quarter. Year-on-year growth was driven by FIFA Mobile. "
Source: http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ERTS/6215479766x0x970023/5E677778-A269-455F-A592-40A45B0D59C7/Q3_FY18_Prepared_Remarks.pdf
I did experience a similar thing like this with Gaiaonline and when people said competition would never happen, it did. It was one of the best things to happen to that site and it is taken back by the original founders of the site now and doing much better. What they are having to do with that site is making the site more modern with updating coding, with communication, and looking at another engine besides Flash for their newer games. Seems like most games on PC now are using Unreal and Unity engines, so they are going to adapt to that. As far as VR being the future of the PC market with gaming, I don't think it is quite affordable for the average gamer now. I know Indie games are becoming popular, Steam is used a lot with games now, and both 2D and 3D games are equally loved now. Seems like graphics aren't the main focus for games, but the average game does have more modern graphics than what the Sims games offer, but options in gameplay seem to be what players are looking for in games. It's been really interesting seeing a lot of games get into psychological backstories with their games which has been providing gamers with a much more deeper understanding about life when playing the games and even brings some heart and relatability with some players. Thanks to Twitch though, there are a lot of gaming options and I can relate to others in that I'm finding things I like about the Sims in other games whether it is building, farming, fishing, watching a family of humans or animals grow, or destroying the surroundings in a game. Sims was just unique in bringing this all together, but if the PC game is to end, there are game options out there. There just may not all come together in one game.
For now, the future is uncertain, but if the Sims goes the MMO route, VR, or Mobile only route, I'm not interested and will seek business elsewhere. Until then, I will enjoy playing as a pirate, getting invisible piranhas spawned on me, knocking out enemies with a shield, and real life adventures. I'm done waiting for the Sims only to come back to disappointment and speculations of things endings. For all I know this could be a prank like the Sims 5 joke which I admit was funny and I knew about it being a joke, so when it comes to Sims news, I don't trust all sources of it. I am curious though if Gaiaonline could provide a life simulation game like the Sims. I guess it is something for me to ask since I do know they have a housing system, a fishing system, marriage system, and a creation system already in place. Well I just asked the CEO, so I shall see, no promises. I mean it is still 2D, but if the Sims doesn't exist on PC anymore, Gaiaonline may experience an increase in membership. Anyway, I know if there ever is a gap in this genre, Simmers will make sure to fill it somehow whether it is reaching to other companies or coming together to make their own game. The game may be killed off, but the community will somehow survive even if it means migrating elsewhere together.
