I can't remember where I heard this, but I remember someone mentioning that an interview with someone on the sims staff said that EA isn't worried about long-time players, because "we just buy all the packs anyways" and they're focusing on bringing in new players.
But take that with a grain of salt because I can't remember my source of that information so it's pretty much just gossip.
Honestly, I see it though. Even someone in this thread already mentioned that they buy packs just to complete the collection. If the game is selling well, that's telling EA that it's a good game and they should keep doing what they're doing.
Also, I think a big consumer focus is on younger people that have a problem with micro-transactions. There are a lot of really crazy people out there. I play an MMORPG where people will pay $1k real life money just for a single material to craft a weapon. There are plenty of people that spend that type of money on mobile games as well. Those are the people Sims 4 is catering to, imo, and as long as people keep buying the packs that's how it's going to stay. Older fans are not a concern to them at all. Even if they do lose us eventually, as long as they get micro-transaction-addicted teens / YAs on board, they're probably going to be happy with that.
