The Sims 4 Adds New Currency and Creator Program
▼ Summary
– EA is launching an in-game marketplace for The Sims 4 on March 17th, where players can buy creator-made items using a new currency called “Moola.”
– Creators must join the “Maker Program” and use EA’s official “Maker Suite” of tools to sell their approved items as “Maker Packs” in the marketplace.
– Makers will earn approximately 30 percent of the Moola from sales, with EA covering all publishing and selling overhead costs.
– All marketplace content will be human-reviewed by EA to ensure it is safe, compatible, and appropriate for the game’s rating.
– The marketplace launches on PC and Mac first, with releases for PlayStation and Xbox consoles planned for the coming months.
The Sims 4 is introducing a significant new feature that will change how players access custom content. Later this month, Electronic Arts will launch an official in-game marketplace where players can purchase items designed by community creators. This new system will utilize a fresh virtual currency known as “Moola.” This move represents a major evolution for the popular life simulation game, which transitioned to a free-to-play model in 2022.
Creators interested in selling their designs must join the newly established Maker Program. Applications for this program open on March 5th. To support these creators, EA will provide a specialized “Maker Suite” containing official development tools, resources, and detailed guidelines. This suite is designed to help ensure that all submitted content functions seamlessly within the game’s environment.
Within the marketplace, approved Makers can list their creations as bundled “Maker Packs” for other players to browse and buy. Users will purchase Moola currency to spend on these packs, and EA has stated that creators will receive approximately 30 percent of the Moola revenue generated from their sales. The company is handling all the backend publishing and transactional overhead for the creators.
To maintain quality and safety, all content submitted to the official marketplace will undergo a human review process. This step is intended to verify that every item is safe, compatible with the game, and appropriate for its age rating. Creators remain free to distribute free content or offer early access through other platforms, but any item available elsewhere will not be permitted for sale in EA’s official marketplace.
The initial launch is scheduled for March 17th on PC and Mac platforms. EA plans to bring the marketplace to PlayStation and Xbox consoles within the next few months. In a recent blog post, the company framed the marketplace as an initiative focused on expanding player choice and directly supporting the creative community that helps define the game’s experience.
The Sims franchise continues to be a cornerstone property for EA, frequently mentioned alongside other major titles with vast online followings. While the mobile version of the game was recently discontinued, development continues on the next-generation Sims project, currently known under the codename Project Rene, which is also planned to be free to download upon release.
(Source: The Verge)
