In celebration of The Sims franchise’s 25th anniversary, EA and Maxis have released an extravaganza of content over the last two months. Notable highlights include a 25-hour-long livestream, the announcement of three new Kits, and a new Expansion Pack, but the biggest announcement was arguably the re-release of The Sims and The Sims 2. Though the re-release of these classic titles has its fair share of bugs, the relaunch was ultimately successful. In fact, the success of this relaunch could lead The Sims 3 to receive similar treatment further down the line.
Players were able to purchase both titles digitally starting on January 31. Simmers can purchase The Sims and The Sims 2 individually, but a pack for the two games called The Sims: 25th Birthday Bundle is also available. All three versions are available on the EA store right now, with The Sims retailing for $19.99, The Sims 2 for $29.99, and The Sims: 25th Birthday Bundle for $39.99.
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Why The Sims 3 Should Get its Own Spotlight
What ultimately led EA and Maxis to re-release these iconic titles is their age and fan perception. Nostalgia for media from the early 2000s is currently at an all-time high, with both The Sims and The Sims 2 sitting in the heart of the time period. Additionally, EA and Maxis made sure that The Sims 4 received new nostalgic content based on the franchise’s previous titles in the Blast from the Past Event. By introducing newer players to these nostalgic items and the franchise’s earlier titles, gamers who have not played The Sims or The Sims 2 might give these games a try.
Therefore, giving The Sims 3 its own time in the spotlight is not only warranted but could be a massive success for EA and Maxis. Unlike The Sims and The Sims 2, The Sims 3 has a much more active player base and the game even received a performance update to suit more modern computers in January. Despite this update, new content for The Sims 3 has not been released since 2013, the year before The Sims 4’s release. The game’s player base and modding community have allowed new content for the game to circulate, but official new content from EA and Maxis has not occurred in years.
But there is a wrench that could be thrown into a re-release of The Sims 3. Unlike The Sims and The Sims 2 before January 31, The Sims 3 has remained available for purchase via digital download on EA’s store and Steam for $19.99. However, a Legacy Edition for The Sims 3 could work if EA and Maxis play their cards right.
How The Sims 3: Legacy Edition Could Happen
DLC for The Sims 3 fits the same mold as other entries in The Sims franchise, with Expansion and Stuff Packs available for the title. However, The Sims 3 store was a controversial avenue for Simmers to purchase new Build and Buy and Create-A-Sim (CAS) items. Both individual items and entire sets are available for purchase using SimPoints, the game’s premium currency. The Sims 3 store surprisingly remains functional despite the game’s release back in 2009. In order to promote The Sims 3 store alongside a Legacy Edition of the game, EA and Maxis could include a few items exclusive to The Sims 3 store in the hypothetical The Sims 3: Legacy Edition. Picking items that are bestsellers could even the playing field for Simmers who were unable to buy items at The Sims 3 store originally.
Another avenue for The Sims 3: Legacy Edition is to simply bundle DLC alongside the base game. EA and Maxis have done this previously for The Sims 3 with The Sims 3 Starter Pack, which included the base game, The Sims 3: Late Night, and The Sims 3: High End Loft Stuff. One Expansion and one Stuff Pack does not make for a very substantial collection. Instead, The Sims 3’s hypothetical Legacy Edition could include more essential Expansion Packs like Generations, Pets, and Seasons. Including packs that feature these necessities alongside the base game would, like The Sims and The Sims 2’s re-releases, incentivize players to pick up the older title. With The Sims franchise’s 25th birthday celebration coming to a close, perhaps The Sims 3 will finally receive a Legacy Edition of its own when the franchise turns thirty.
- Released
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June 2, 2009
- ESRB
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T For Teen due to Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts