JOB OPENING: Head Of Monetization & Marketplace

This does not sound good at all.

This looks pretty bad.
I imagine this marketplace is going to be very aggressive with in-game sales. With the Sims 4, they already know that customers will buy anything they put in front of them. I wouldn't be surprised if they have sales all the time for different clothes, furniture, hairs and cosmetic items for $2 or more.
There will most certainly be an in-game currency. Maybe simoleons, but you have to earn them by doing quests.

People keep comparing this to Animal Crossing, but it's going to be very different. This sounds very similar to an MMO, despite their attempts to say it's not. Animal Crossing never had an in-game store with real currency.

I really don't understand how anyone can be optimistic about the Sims 5. The signs are all there for what type of game it is going to be, and it doesn't look good.

I have never played a F2P - Micro transaction store game and I never will.
I am heading over to Paradox I guess.

Also if it is going to be compatible with mobile means it will be simpler than Sims 4 graphically and animation-wise. They say as much on stage, they are working to see "how they can get away with the bare minimum" of animations and super-cartoony graphics.

If the base game is free-to-play and the rest of the content is Expansion Packs, Game Packs, and Kits as we know them now, I don't have a problem with it. It's just EA establishing a large customer base as a foundation.

However, if all content are only micro-transactions like The Sims 3 store, I am going to have to sit on the sidelines for a year or two so I can see if we are being taken advantage of. I mean really analyze the content for value compared to The Sims 4.

If it's a micro-transaction nightmare or subscription based, I'm out. No way.

I'm not completely against the next game being F2P considering The Sims 4 already is but my thing is, how's the DLC structure gonna work? They're not gonna make any money in the first few months of release up until we get the first pack. Unless, they turn it into an even more aggressive Sims 3 store model. Who knows, but hopefully it's just a monthly subscription.

From Sims Community:

The first two bullet points are the most important here, which talk about in-game content purchases and Sims 5 Free to Play game system:

#Own Project Rene’s in-game marketplace of content and UGC (free and paid), and manage a data-informed player-centric player purchase journey. Maximizing value to players, optimizing player spend patterns, and minimizing player churn.

This part signifies that The Sims 5 will have its own in-game store. For both Official Content and User Generated Content. According to this statement, there will be both free and paid content.
We don’t know for certain yet (and don’t take our word for it), but this could mean that Custom Content, CC and general UGC could be downloaded straight from the game!

#Own pricing of all content in this free-to-enter game, ensuring we have an optimal pricing and content architecture. Provide guidance to content teams on in-game content needs to meet player demand.
It seems that EA is already firm on The Sims 5 Free to Play method for the game. The first sentence is formed like the publisher already made a decision that it would be free from launch.

We’re not sure yet if there are any differences between Free to Play and Free to Enter terms. Either way, a new way of releasing Sims content seems almost definite for The Sims 5.


The Sims 5 Free to Play wouldn’t be the first time EA practiced a new monetization method. Video game Apex Legends saw massive success at launch, and it also released for free on day one. Still, it’s very early to tell how this could translate into The Sims marketplace.

The Sims Franchise had already made a big move last year when they made The Sims 4 Base Game entirely free. Considering that the move saw massive rise in active player base it’s a no-brainer that a similar method is being used for the next generation Sims game.

The community is sceptical that we could be slowly moving on from the Packs release system that’s been present in The Sims Franchise since the beginning. And move on to a more microtransaction, subscription-driven service. Emphasis on could, considering that the Base Game isn’t even halfway done yet.

This definitely wouldn’t be the first time that EA considered a Subscription Service for a Sims game. The Sims 4 planned to have a “Premium Membership” before the concept was scrapped shortly before the game’s launch.

The Sims 4’s Membership Concept sounds familiar with what EA is planning to do for The Sims 5 Free to Play in terms of in-game content releases. Still, it’s best that you:

Keep your expectations set!

Remember, The Sims 5 is still years away from the full worldwide release. The development team is still deep into creating the game’s prototypes, and we still have to go through many Beta Tests, Feedback Sessions and more until the game is ready.

https://simscommunity.info/2023/06/28/the-sims-5-free-to-play/

Well, I'm glad it's going to be free to play at the start. That mean I can play it and decide if I even want to invest in the Sims 5. I already said my interest in Sims 5 will depend on the condition they leave Sims 4.

I wish they had a job with people can brainstorm bounce ideas off each other to come with ideas and theme for the packs because Sims 4 been missing the mark especially with items and gameplay in the packs.

"bixters;c-18283177" wrote:
This looks pretty bad.
I imagine this marketplace is going to be very aggressive with in-game sales. With the Sims 4, they already know that customers will buy anything they put in front of them. I wouldn't be surprised if they have sales all the time for different clothes, furniture, hairs and cosmetic items for $2 or more.
There will most certainly be an in-game currency. Maybe simoleons, but you have to earn them by doing quests.

People keep comparing this to Animal Crossing, but it's going to be very different. This sounds very similar to an MMO, despite their attempts to say it's not. Animal Crossing never had an in-game store with real currency.

I really don't understand how anyone can be optimistic about the Sims 5. The signs are all there for what type of game it is going to be, and it doesn't look good.

Thats why I never understood the people screaming for a ts5 thinking it's going to be the ts2 ts3 ts4 combined with 90% of the DLC as basegame because they hate ts4 or think expansion packs should be gamepacks.
Ts5 itself could be a very good game with the new features and technology sure. But it's a "new" game. And all of the new games fall into the new way of gaming. Subscriptions, limited items,market places, in game currencies and micro transactions, online multiplayer, gotcha style games and more. No game can really escape this because it's what makes money and what company wants to miss opportunities for more money?

Just based off of my guessing I honestly believe ts5 will be a good fun game! May have revolutionary features, beautiful Sims, great animations and interactions.
But money wise I don't think it's going to be as cheap as ts4. And I think the company owner is going to take any opportunity he can to model this after games with money grabbing features we all hate. I think DLC is the least of our concerns.
I would love to be proven wrong but I truly believe this.