I am having issues with my Sims4 game not opening in May 2024.

Having a similar problem!

Started up EA and first said that I didn't have any of my games, signed out and back in then games were there, tried starting up sims, got a pop up saying ' Taking longer than usual to start your game. hang tight". Never started, had no problems playing until this month.

Playing on pc WIN 11 aswell

I am having the exact same issue. Been playing for many months fine prior to this error now starting at the end of April 2024. 

Attached is the screenshot of the error I continually get. I have installed the latest version of the EA app.
I have unistalled & re-installed the sims4 game several times, with & without the add-on packages I have purchased.

I have run the EA app restore process & cleared the cache as it suggests in other troubleshooting. I have also run the software validation via my Steam client account, which I have also played all my Sims games through in the past. (see the validation screenshot - all shows valid & OK). 

Nothing is working. How can we be playing this game on Windows 11 for over a year & now suddenly we cannot even load the game without crashing on start up? And before anyone asks... YES my system is running Win 11 64bit version OS & all the rest of the EA app requirements are exceeded by my system set up, so this error is NOT because my system doesn't meet the minimum requirements for the EA app. 

EA really needs to look into this seriously. I have submitted numerous error reports through the EA app & so far heard NOTHING!

The same startup issue is happening with other SIms games too, eg Sims medieval. (See 2nd error upload attached)

HELP!!! I need my Sims Game Therapy!!!

@ShirleyDont95  Please post a screenshot of the error.

@BreezaGreyham  Please force-update the EA App.  Go here:

C:\Program Files\Electroninc Arts\EA Desktop\EA Desktop

and launch the EAUpdater.exe.  Then see whether Sims 4 opens, and if not, please post a screenshot of the error.

@LittleBlowFly  Please use this thread for the error you're seeing:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-Unable-to-Start-Game-Data-Missing-or/td-p/13276818

My game simply runs in the background for a few moments, and then the EA app relaunches. I don't even get a dialogue box with an error in it.

@coldcutsupreme  As a test, please try playing in a clean user folder.  Move the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop, and when you launch the game, if it launches, a clean folder will spawn with no content.  (Your saves and other content will be intact in the folder you moved but temporarily not read by the game.)  Don't add anything to the new folder yet; just let me know whether you can get far enough to start a new save and play in live mode for a bit.

If that doesn't help, please run a dxdiag and attach it to a post.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

Thank you Puzzleaddict for helping.   I just took this today, I haven't been on since I posted my question.   I click my desktop Sims4 icon (like I always did) and this is the box that pops up,every time. Do I really need to run Origin?  I'd really rather not, but I have invested in a few packs.  Also, more thoughts on my issue, not sure if any of it connects to my issue, I had just gotten the Romantic Garden stuff while it was on sale.  I was able to play with a bit on April 29,2024, but then next time I went to get on, May 2 or 3, this is the pop up window I constantly keep getting.  I figure the more info I can provide, might help those who know these things! 

Oh, adding that I have never had Origin on my laptop - EVER and I've been playing for since Jan 2024, soo I'm not really sure why it keeps telling me that I need it now?!?!  Just frustrating. Thanks for any help.

Thank you so much puzzlezaddict - it works again!  Well, for this one time, I played for about 30 minutes, will check it again later tonight and will go using the EA app! 

Thank you kindly, again!  ShirleyDont95