Electronic Arts said more than 15 million players joined The Sims 4 over the past year, according to its Q2 FY25 results published October 29, 2024. EA did not disclose the exact dates covered or explain how much of the increase came from the game becoming free to download, so the figure is not a count of new sales or confirmed paying users.
What EA reported—and what “15 million players” means
EA’s October 29, 2024 earnings release said: “The Sims™ 4 continues to expand, with more than 15 million players joining the game over the past year.” The company did not specify the start and end dates of that year or publish a Sims-specific definition of “players joining.” EA’s Q2 FY25 results also said increased engagement contributed to higher-than-expected net bookings for The Sims franchise in the quarter.
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The wording matters. EA reported players joining, not 15 million copies sold. It did not say that every new player paid for the game, bought downloadable content, or continued playing. EA’s May 2024 investor slides describe its player network generally as active accounts used to play EA games and services on any platform in the preceding 12 months, while noting measurement challenges. EA did not say that this general definition was the precise method behind the Sims 4 figure. EA’s Q4 FY24 earnings slides provide that broader context, not a full methodology for this specific claim.
How free access provides context for the growth
The Sims 4 base game became free to download for new players in October 2022. In April 2023, EA and Maxis said the game had passed 70 million players worldwide and that more than 16 million new players had downloaded it since the free-to-download change. They also reported a 53 percent increase in average weekly users in that context. These are separate historical measures; none gives a breakdown of the more-than-15-million figure EA reported in October 2024. EA and Maxis’s 2023 announcement is the source for those milestones.
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- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
- Develop Parenting Skills – Level up your Sim’s parenting skills to satisfy their child’s needs and influence their behaviors. Gain new abilities through experience and choosing when to discipline bad actions, encourage good behavior, or just let kids be kids.
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- Gather your Sim’s family to participate in new activities and spend quality time with each other. Sims of all ages can work together to complete a variety of school projects, express their creativity using construction blocks, or volunteer their time for good.
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Free access is a plausible part of the game’s broader audience growth, given the timing and EA’s download figures. But EA has not quantified how much of the 2024 increase it explains, and the earlier download total cannot be treated as the number of players added in the later year.
How the figures fit together
| When | EA-reported figure | What it measures—and does not |
|---|---|---|
| April 2023 | More than 70 million players worldwide | A Sims 4 milestone announced by EA and Maxis; it is not an October 2024 total. |
| By April 2023 | More than 16 million new players had downloaded the game after it became free to download in October 2022 | A cumulative download-related figure for that period, not the same measure or timeframe as players joining over the year reported in 2024. |
| October 29, 2024 | More than 15 million players joined over the past year | EA’s report of new players joining; the exact dates and Sims-specific counting method were not stated. |
| September 2024 | More than 1.2 billion hours of Sims 4 play in 2024, including more than 759 million hours in Live mode and more than 303 million in Build mode; 640+ million Sims customized | EA engagement figures, not evidence that the new players paid for the game or purchased content. |
EA’s September 2024 update supplies the play-hour and customization figures. They show substantial activity around the game, but they do not identify which players generated that activity or how much anyone spent.
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- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
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What the growth says about spending
EA linked increased engagement with higher-than-expected net bookings for The Sims franchise in Q2 FY25. That is relevant commercial context, but it does not establish that the new Sims 4 players caused the bookings result or that each new player spent money. Player growth, engagement, and bookings are related business measures; they are not interchangeable.
For players who want additional content, EA’s Marketplace help page describes Expansion Packs, Game Packs, Stuff Packs, and Maker Packs. EA says PC and Mac players can browse and buy through the in-game Marketplace, on the web, or through the EA app; console players must make Marketplace purchases in-game. Platform availability and purchasing methods may vary, so check EA’s current Marketplace guide. Those digital products are not evidence of purchases by the players in EA’s growth figure.
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Why the 500 million figure is not a Sims 4 count
In 2025, EA said The Sims franchise had more than 500 million lifetime players. That number covers the franchise, not The Sims 4 alone, so it should not be used as a later Sims 4 player total. EA’s 2025 franchise announcement makes the scope clear.
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- Requires The Sims 4 & all game updates. For PC, see minimum system requirements for the pack.
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