Cannot progress past CAS

I have downloaded the game fresh from EA play with no mods installed and created a new save path.

I can open the game to the menu, start a new game, and use create a sim fine, but I cannot progress past this.

Once I hit 'play' and then 'save and play' nothing happens. The pop-up with the image of my household shows up fine and I can press the 'save and play' button, but then the game doesn't progress from there no matter how long I wait.

I can hit esc. and exit that screen, as well as exiting back to the main menu. 

I also cannot download households from the gallery.

I have been having this problem for over a year now, each time downloading the game fresh with a new save file location and no packs or CC installed.

Any help / ideas would be appreciated greatly.