With EA and Maxis finally revealing that The Sims 5 is on the way, fans of the long-running simulation series are excited to see what’s next. With The Sims 4 transitioning to free-to-play, it was clear EA was paving the way for the next installment, and fans are curious to discover what elements The Sims 5 would incorporate from the series to date. It’s still very early days for the next chapter in The Sims franchise – it’s still being referred to by its codename “Project Rene” – but with The Sims 5 on the horizon, players have had lots to talk about since the developer’s announcement last year.
The developer has already stated its intention that The Sims 5 would “reimagine The Sims you know and love with new ways to play”, which suggests that there will be lots of changes coming to the game. However, fans that want more of the same shouldn’t panic, as it will still be built on the same foundations as the previous games and stay true to the classic Sims formula in many ways. One aspect that some players would love to see make a return and get an update is the Kit Votes that they were able to participate in The Sims 4, although it remains to be seen what shape this could take in The Sims 5.
The Sims 4 Kit Votes
When The Sims 4 first launched, it was clear that EA and Maxis wanted the social simulation game to really expand the freedom of its players. In a game series that had always allowed for creativity when it came to building houses, choosing a Sim’s style, or shaping their destinies with the click of a button, The Sims 4 tried to push the envelope even further. The character creation was more in-depth and hands-on, the options for building and crafting were increased, and a new game engine meant Sims were more sophisticated and nuanced than ever before. Another new aspect that was introduced was Kit Votes.
As with previous Sims titles, The Sims 4 came with an overabundance of post-launch content. These varied from full expansions that included things like new interactive careers and pets to smaller game packs with more of a focus on content over additional features. Kits might have only focused on furniture or clothing items, but they still added a little something extra to the base game. EA recently added another dimension to this, letting members of the community vote on The Sims 4 Kits that they wanted to see in the game and democratizing the selection of new Create-A-Sim options or Build Mode items.
How The Sims 5 Could Use Kit Votes
Including community feedback and getting the player base involved in their favorite games is nothing new, but it’s not something that The Sims series has embraced too frequently. It can be common for developers to pay attention to fan forums or discussions and base the next updates or content packs on feedback, but letting players actually decide on what’s coming to their favorite releases is a great way to get them more involved. The Sims series lets gamers create their own neighborhoods and shape what they see, but by encouraging them to have a hand in choosing the building blocks, the franchise can widen the in-game world and make it much more interactive.
Bringing back The Sims 4‘s Kit Votes for The Sims 5 and even upping the stakes by letting gamers have a say on more than just aesthetic items would turn it into more of a living, breathing community. One of the best parts of recent Sims games has been the social aspects and the ways in which the titles bleed into the real world, and voting only builds on this. The Sims 5 could become a unique game in so many different ways and could encourage fans to get more involved, open up the chance for more diverse voices, and allow creativity to really run riot.
The Sims 5 is in development.