Fans of The Sims 4 are angry at EA as it appears the developer hasn't learned anything from the backlash and controversy over the game's Kits. The continued release of Kits - the most recent of which being Sims 4's Carnaval Streetwear Kit - demonstrates that EA had not listened to the Sims 4 community, many of whom disliked the smaller content packs when they initially launched. A lot of Sims 4 players have taken to social media and message boards to express their anger as they feel EA is ignoring their concerns, with the game having seen more Kits instead of more significant additions over the last year.
Kits were first introduced to Sims 4 as tiny DLCs in March 2021 with the simultaneous release of Bust the Dust, Country Kitchen, and Throwback Fit that same month. As time has gone on, more Kits have come out alongside other DLCs for the Sims 4. Each Sims 4 DLC Kit is a small collection of items related to Kits focus, with Bust the Dust also providing players with a small amount of new gameplay mechanics.
Since their release, the Sims 4 Kits have been a controversial and divisive issue among the fanbase. There are currently 10 Kits available for players to purchase and provide a mixture of building, clothing, and limited gameplay. However, some Sims 4 fans are angry as they don't believe the small number of assets justifies the price of the Kits.
One of Sims 4 players' main issues with the Kits is their price. Currently, the total cost for the Sims 4, if a player were to buy all expansions packs, stuff packs, game packs, and Kits, is over $800.00. Granted, the Sims 4 has been out for almost eight years, but that works out at a whopping $100 per year for Simmers.
From a certain point of view, Kits do make sense as they do not have as much content as the other packs and are what the Sims teams describe as hyper-focused. They were not designed to appeal to everyone, with each of the current Kits available focusing on different aspects of Sims 4 gameplay. However, many Simmers still feel that the Sims 4 Kits are not worth buying and do not justify their $4.99 price tag.
Many Sims 4 players feel that the items in the Kits should be in expansion, stuff, or game packs. Other Sims 4 players have drawn comparisons to the infamous Sims 3 store, which had plays buy Sims Points with real money to buy additional items for their game. The costs soon added up for players, and to some, the Kits look like a worrying step back towards microtransactions.
The Sims 4 has several kinds of DLC that it releases, varying in size and quality. Expansions, stuff packs, game packs, and now Kits leave fans feeling that EA wants to make as much money as possible from an already established fanbase. However, other fans argue that if players don't want to buy the Kits, they are under no obligation to do so, and thus the community is divided on the issue.
Another issue to consider is the role that the Covid-19 pandemic could have played and its influence on the development and release of the Kits. EA could have decided to release smaller content packs to appease a community accustomed to having more. It could have been easier to release smaller packs with so many team members off work or working remotely.
Although perhaps initially intended as palate cleansers by The Sims 4 team, the continued release of the Kits has left many Sims fans feeling disappointed. Smaller hyperfocused packs mean that at least one or two will appeal in such a varied fanbase though. Ultimately, EA has a business to run, and Kits make good business sense, even if many players may prefer more substantial updates.
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