While most games experience an initial surge in sales that dwindles over time, The Sims 4 is breaking the mold. A decade after its launch, the game has attracted an astonishing more than 15 million new players within the past year alone.

This eye-opening statistic comes from EA’s Q2 earnings report released. For a social sim game that has been around for ten years, this level of engagement is remarkable, especially considering that the base game transitioned to a free-to-play model in 2022.

To put this achievement in context, it took The Sims 4 four years to reach 20 million unique players during its initial premium release. Following its free-to-play switch in October 2022, the game saw an influx of 31 million new players almost immediately, culminating in a total of 85 million players as of March 2024. While the specifics on how the latest 15 million players impact the current total remain unclear, it’s undeniably a testament to the game’s lasting appeal.

According to the report, the robust performance of The Sims 4, alongside titles such as Madden NFL, EA Sports FC, and College Football 25, has enabled EA to adjust its outlook for FY25 positively. The Madden NFL and College Football franchises are on track to exceed USD 1 billion in net bookings this fiscal year. Notably, interest in American football titles among new players has doubled year-over-year, with Q2 engagement increasing by an impressive 140%.

Additionally, College Football 25 has emerged as the best-selling game in North America for September. On the other hand, EA Sports FC is experiencing live-service growth across all platforms, continuing its successful momentum from a record-setting FY24. In total, EA reported net bookings of USD 2.079 billion and net revenue of USD 2.025 billion for Q2 FY25.

As EA celebrates the ongoing success of The Sims 4, fans are eagerly anticipating the direction developer Maxis will take in the future. Currently, the studio’s primary focus is on Project Rene, an evolution of The Sims franchise.

While details are scarce, it is understood to be an online multiplayer experience, leaving longtime players excited about a new chapter after 10 years. The anticipation for what comes next in this beloved series is palpable and promises to keep the community engaged.