In the Origin app, right-click on the gear icon next to the Play button and select "Repair".
Reporting in that I, too, get stuck at the load screen after clicking the > play button in Sims4. Must force quit because the game isn't doing anything or responding. -nosound and without the flag do not change anything.
HOWEVER, repairing plus using "load" instead of using the play button did allow me to get to the world management screen. The play button did not.
So, try using the load button and manually selecting the game you wish to load and see if that workaround helps.
I WAS able to get into the game and resume playing, but I needed to manually select the game I wished to load to do so. I also need to repair every time before loading in the game for the load button to work.
So, try clicking 'load' rather than hitting the big play button!
load times ARE longer than before, but I was able to get into the game.
Save early, save often.
The repair in Origin tip is what fixed it for me! Thanks
