‘The Sims 4’ on Steam: 3 things players need to know before switching the way they play

The return of several EA-published games to Valve’s Steam has been known since the last fall, and it has finally happened after the EA Play Live 2020. “The Sims 4” is included in the lineup and fans of the life simulation game might want to take note of a few reminders before switching platforms.

Steam is one of the OG digital distribution and software clients that gamers have been going to for new game releases. This meant that the platform has a considerable advantage when it comes to services and features compared to its competitors.

However, many believed that its reported 30% revenue cut from third-party developers and publishers has led companies like EA to launching its own digital distribution platform called Origin. Unsurprisingly, the launch of Epic Games Store has led to reports that Valve started to relax that requirement, and it may have fueled the return of some EA hit titles like “The Sims 4.”

‘The Sims 4’ players are required to purchase the base game on Steam

The response to “The Sims 4” arriving on Steam shows that more players seem to prefer playing on Valve’s platform than Origin. It should be noted, however, that making this switch is not free. EA confirmed to GamesRadar that the base “The Sims 4” will have to be purchased on Steam so players can access the content they purchased on Origin.

Upon purchasing “The Sims 4” on Steam, players should then be able to access their saved games and other microtransaction purchases they previously made on Origin. The slight consolation right now is that the base game is on a 50% discount on Steam, so players will have to pay $20 to initiate the switch from Origin.

Players confirm Origin Launcher is still needed

The caveat to getting “The Sims 4” on Steam does not end there, though. A quick scan of the early reviews on Steam confirms what many players feared -- they will still be required to install the Origin launcher even though they have purchased the game on Valve’s platform. This has led to some questioning the point of launching the game on Steam.

New players should brace for the cost of DLCs

On the other hand, adding “The Sims 4” could be a generally good move for EA to attract new gamers. And to those who have not yet toyed with this game, they should be prepared for the pricing of its DLCs.

The Expansion Packs are infamous for being priced higher than the base game, although not getting them will certainly make the “The Sims 4” experience incomplete. All EPs (except the new “Eco Lifestyle”) and Game Packs are currently priced 30% lower on Steam bringing the cost down to $28 and $14 while Stuff Packs are available for $8 after a 20% discount. All promotional prices are only available until July 9.