In-game chat

The feature would have be optional. Sim time is my time and the last thing I want is to pestered by social chats.

Eh. I’m not a social gamer so such a feature wouldn’t appeal to me personally. Very introverted person here.

Doesn't origin have an in-game chat overlay already? I use discord and just keep it open on one of my other monitors, so I don't know for sure.

I don’t think it’s necessary to integrate chat into the game. There are so many other ways to do it.

Here's about using Origin chat with friends in your game.

https://help.ea.com/en/help/origin/origin/how-to-use-origin-in-game/

yes, absolutely optional

or maybe it can be like aol chat where you only talk to the people you want to talk to? Both me and my friend are long standing sims players and it would be nice to chat with her while we play

I don't think it has been tested with the sims but I don't know for sure.

Yep Origin has it and it's been around quite a long time. You have to have your chat friends on a list - and set it up to notify you when they sign on - As none of my friends or myself for that matter care to talk while playing - I have all friends notifications shut off except a mention of when they are online - but the chat is annoying. Up in the corner of your screen. You cannot see each other just the chat. You also have to have Origin online - I always have it online but I know many people do not like to keep it online because their pcs can't handle it or their internet is not very good. I have no issues with it myself.

IDK, for me sims is nearly perfect for my introvert self.