‘The Sims 5’ release date, gameplay: Will the new game be available on next-generation consoles on Day 1?

The life simulation video game franchise has been made available on both PC and consoles. However, main series installments, expansion packs, and even patch notes are known to always arrive much earlier on PC. With “The Sims 5” being the subject of many online discussions, some fans might be wondering if this pattern of launching the game will change once the next-generation consoles are here.

‘The Sims 5’ gameplay: Will PlayStation and Xbox players get the game the same time as PC gamers?

Aside from the release date and gameplay features of “The Sims 5,” console players might also be wondering if they will ever experience receiving game updates the same day as PC players. Even in the latest main series installment “The Sims 4” that gap remains, for example, the base game was released on September 2013 on Windows PC and macOS after over five months. However, it did not become available on PS4 and Xbox One until November 2017.

The expansion packs of “The Sims 4” also arrive later on consoles, but the gap seems to be getting shorter over the years. “Island Living” launched on consoles within three weeks since it was released on PC. Does this signal an improvement in the waiting period for “The Sims 5,” especially with the next-generation consoles anticipated to be released in the coming year?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this topic. Several possible factors possible cause the longer waiting period for game contents and patches to arrive on consoles. That may include the time it takes to port them from the original PC version. It is also very likely that the certification process that Sony and Microsoft require affect the time frame. It then appears that the answer will only be known once EA and Maxis are ready to discuss its plans for “The Sims 5.”

‘The Sims 5’ release date and gameplay rumors: What to expect

Many were expecting to receive major news about “The Sims 5” in 2019 while some even anticipated to have a release date this year. It is not too far-fetched considering that there have been four- to five-year gaps in between the launching of main series installments since 2000.

However, the developers appear to be more focused on delivering more updates and new contents for “The Sims 4” at this point before worrying about “The Sims 5.” Even if next-generation consoles are anticipated to be announced in 2020, there is still no assurance that the next game will be ready within the same year. It might then take a while before fans can confirm if the next game will have VR options among other new features.