Careers have always been an integral part ofThe Simsfranchise, andThe Sims 4is no exception. With so many DLC expansions over the game’s almost eleven-year history,The Sims 4has hit several goldmines but also landed some duds through these packs’ new career additions. As the first Expansion Pack forThe Sims 4, Get to Work not only feels outdated, but has its fair share of annoying traits that should be fixed in some capacity. Fortunately, an upcoming new Expansion Pack forThe Sims 4could do just that.
In celebration ofThe Simsfranchise’s twenty-fifth anniversary on February 4, EA and Maxis have announced a variety of new and old content. Fromfresh Kits and Expansionsto rereleases and base game updates, there’s plenty of incredible content for both new players and seasoned Simmers alike. Most of these announcements were made in a Behind the Sims 25th Birthday Special livestream on January 14. Though explicit details about some of this new content were confirmed in the stream, other content has remained shrouded in mystery, meaning it’s possible to speculate about what it will offer.
The Unconfirmed Businesses and Hobbies Expansion Pack
Data miners may bespilling the beans onThe Sims 4’s Motherlode Seasonbefore EA and Maxis have the chance. The Behind the Sims 25th Birthday Special livestream did not announce any upcoming Expansion Packs, but considering the ambiguous titles like “Nostalgia Now,” “Motherlode Season”, and a teasing side-eye emoji, an Expansion Pack is definitely not out of the question.
According to a post by data miner anadiuson X (formerly Twitter),The Sims 4’s next Expansion Pack will be called Businesses and Hobbies. Like previous Expansion Packs, bonus content will be available for Simmers who buy early or pre-order.
The data miner also mentioned something entitled “Set Up Shop” which could either be a new feature or additional separate DLC forThe Sims 4.
Considering the title of this alleged Expansion Pack, one alleged official announcement date for the pack could be on February 6, which the aforementioned Behind the Sims 25th Birthday Special livestream deemed as “Motherlode Season.” This referential name fits perfectly with an Expansion Pack called Businesses and Hobbies,as “Motherlode” is a money cheatthat gives Simmers 50,000 Simoleons. Another option is February 4, duringThe Sims’ 25th Birthday Celebration, which includes a twenty-five-hour livestream, a free content drop, and other events.The Simsteam has historically announced new content on Tuesdays, which February 4 falls upon, making it the more likely date of the two.
Businesses and Hobbies Could Give Get to Work Some Much Need TLC
Get to Work was the first Expansion Packcreated forThe Sims 4. This Expansion Pack debuted in 2015, making its 10th anniversary this year alongside the franchise’s 25th. Up until Get to Work, all career paths inThe Sims 4were “rabbit-hole careers,” meaning no actual gameplay was included with these jobs. Get to Work allowed players to follow their Sims to work and to actually perform tasks as a doctor, scientist, or detective. Additionally, players could create their own small retail business.
Unfortunately,Get to Work has remained extremely buggysince its release. Additionally, many of the tasks, particularly in the detective career, can feel repetitive. The doctor career also requires tasks that can take extended amounts of time, making Sims leave extremely late from work and thereby messing up other kinds of gameplay.
If the Businesses and Hobbies Expansion is true, this content could introduce new gameplay elements that improve Get to Work or, at the very least, giveThe Simsdeveloper Maxis an excuse to updateThe Sims 4’s first Expansion Pack.Creating DLC that effectively changes other DLCrather than the base game has been a controversial move, but Businesses and Hobbies would likely have its own standalone gameplay in addition to these fixes. Other Expansion Packs have improved upon their predecessors in the past, with High School Years revamping Get to Work’s retail stores and For Rent revamping apartments, first introduced in City Living and briefly expanded in Eco Lifestyle, while simultaneously having their own features.
ThoughThe Simsfranchise’s birthday seasonwill certainly bring about good news for its biggest title, hopefully the alleged Businesses and Hobbies Expansion will be one such addition toThe Sims 4.
