The Sims 4 was released on September 2nd 2014 for Microsoft Windows and later on for OS X. A recent announcement that one of the Maxis offices made everyone fear that the console version of the game will not be released.
Shutting down Maxis Emeryville could potentially affect the development and porting of Sims 4 to PlayStation 4. As Maxis Emeryville was handling SimCity, the IP itself and the further development has been transferred to the Redwood Shores. What this means is the fact that the PS4 launch could be delayed.
When Will Sims 4 Come To PS4?
EA and Maxis did not offer any details regarding the port. Looking at the IP and its history, Maxis likes to launch the console version a year later than the PC one. This has happened several times with previous Sims games. As of now there are now official news regarding the port.
A potential launch date for the PS4 version could come at PAX in August which would be closer to the one year mark. Maxis likes to make announcements at big events and even if the next PAX is scheduled for this autumn the developers might not have time to come up with a working build anytime earlier. The fact that the Emeryville was closed could delay things a little bit. Fortunately the studio did manage to release a few expansion packs for the game to keep the players busy for a while.
Why Maxis Will Need To Release A PS4 Version
In a previous statement from Maxis the developers expressed their willingness to listen to the community and give them what they ask. Since it seems that the future of the game is player driven there is no doubt that there will be a console version of the game just like with the previous titles. There is a big fan base that played the previous titles on their PS3 or Xbox 360 and will most likely love to have Sims 4 on their favorite platform.
The good news is that by the time Sims 4 will be ported to consoles there will already be several expansion packs available and it is highly likely to see the PS4 version delivered with more content at launch than the PC version. What needs to be fully understood is the fact that the console version of the game takes a lot of time to develop and testing is more demanding. The biggest problem is the controls. While the studio has a sheer amount of experience from the previous titles that have been ported they still need to work on a brand new version of the game that could bring new challenges.
The Wait Begins
There is very little doubt that the PS4 version of the game will be launched this year. Console owners that are tempted to buy the PC version just so that they could play the game might want to wait a few more months at least until more leaks will hit media outlets or Maxis makes an official announcement. August will bring Pax in Seattle and more news will surely come from Maxis as the date approaches.
Related ItemsPlayStation 4ps4The Sims 4
