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Electronic Arts, the makers behind The Sims franchise of video games, as well as a bevy of others, has been pretty cagey about upcoming release dates lately. While they have not officially announced plans to release a fifth incarnation of The Sims, fans seem pretty sure The Sims 5 is an inevitability. Rumors about what that game could look like are gaining steam, too. The most discussed story suggests that The Sims 5 may get a facelift in the form of online and multiplayer gaming modes. So, is there any truth to the rumor?

A competitive mode could change the game

Rumors have Swirled that EA will look to bring the game into the online realm, and in doing so, could create a competitive mode. Competition is something that the series has lacked for years. While many fans seem perfectly happy to build away without a competitive mindset, adding a bit of competition could open the game up to an entirely new type of player, the kind of player who appreciates the online accolades that often come with competitive gameplay.

In a call about EA’s earnings, Andrew Wilson, the CEO of Electronic Arts, stated that the team was looking at ways to bring a multiplayer mode into The Sims. According to Forbes, he noted that the team behind The Sims had tried, years ago, to launch The Sims Online. While that attempt failed, the company is considering giving online and multiplayer gameplay another shot. Wilson did not extrapolate on whether that mode would be an update for Sims 4 or appear as a new feature in an upcoming release. Still, experts believe multiplayer functionality will likely appear in The Sims 5.

Rumors also suggest The Sims 5 could find its way onto the Nintendo Switch

EA has made moves to add The Sims to consoles in recent years. The Sims 4, for example, was made available on the Xbox One and the PS4, although gameplay on the consoles is a bit different than the gameplay PC users are familiar with. Rumors are swirling that EA has a different plan for the rumored fifth incarnation of the franchise. Instead of porting the game for Xbox or Playstation, EA may partner with Nintendo to make the game portable, according to Technobezz.

The Nintendo Switch seems likely to become the game’s new console home. It would make sense, considering the type of games that seem to thrive on the Switch. Simulation games are much beloved on the console, and the recent success of Animal Crossing: New Horizon, may indicate that the world is ready to take their simulation games on the road with them. EA hasn’t openly discussed any plans to port the franchise to the Switch, just yet, though.  

When will The Sims 5 be released?

The newest incarnation of the game does not have an official release date. In fact, EA has been extraordinarily tight-lipped about whether or not a fifth incarnation of The Sims is even going to happen. The Sims Base notes that after the release of The Sims 4, EA executives refused to comment on whether or not they were going to start work on a fifth game. Instead, they claimed they were waiting to see if The Sims 4 took off.

Years later, it is clear the game was a success, so fans believe a fifth incarnation of the game is basically guaranteed. When that will happen, though, remains up in the air. The Sims franchise doesn’t release on a regular schedule, although there is a basic pattern that could give fans a clue as to when they can expect the next game.

The original PC game was released in February 2000. Four years later, The Sims 2  was released, followed five years later by The Sims 3. The most recent version of the game, The Sims 4, was released in 2014, five years after The Sims 3 was released to the public. September 2020 will mark six years since the release of The Sims 4. Considering the company’s previous release pattern, it’s possible fans could see The Sims 5 by 2021.

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