The Sims 4

is the fourth major title in life simulation video game series The Sims, developed by Maxis and The Sims Studio and published by Electronic Arts. The Sims 4 was originally announced on May 6, 2013, and was released in North America on September 2, 2014 for Microsoft Windows.[1] A Mac compatible version of the game was made available for digital download on February 17, 2015.[2] The Sims 4 is the first PC game to top all-format charts in two years.[3] The game has received mixed reviews since its release, with the majority of criticism directed towards its lack of content.[4] Since its launch, it became the best selling PC game of 2014 and 2015. As of October 2016, The Sims 4 has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.[5] Versions of the game for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles were released on November 17, 2017.

The game has the same concept as its predecessor, The Sims 3; players control their Sims in various activities and can form relationships. The game, like most of the series, does not have a defined final goal; gameplay is nonlinear. The Create-a-Sim and Build Mode tools have been redesigned to allow more versatility when creating game content. Emotional state plays a larger role in game play than in previous games in the series, with effects on social interaction, user interface, and personality.[6][7] To date EA has released four expansion packs, with the most recent (Cats & Dogs) being released in November 2017. There have also been several "game packs" released, including Parenthood which allows the players to shape the characters' children and teenagers as they go through life, as well as free updates that include major changes such as the addition of a toddler life stage.