AsThe Simsfranchise ventures into its twenty-fifth year, EA and Maxis have announced plenty of new content to celebrate its anniversary.The Simsteam announced the festivities during a Behind The Sims 25th Birthday Special stream, with the first new set of content slated for January 16. While one of the Kits was revealed in the stream, two were left in the dark until release day. Though they may seem unassuming to casual gamers, Simmers in the know were blown away by these Kits, which could change the content of future Kits.
TheBehind The Sims 25th Birthday Special streamwas dedicated to Simmers first and foremost. Filled with constant references to niche areas ofThe Simsand fantastic updates for free-to-play gamers, it’s clear that the next two months will be a bounty for Simmers. The new Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits are perfect examples of EA and Maxis’ approach to referential content over the next few months.
Kits Fit to Celebrate The Sims' 25th Anniversary
New Kit Pricing
Up until January 16,The SimsKits have been dedicated to one featurespecifically. Kits included new Create-A-Sim (CAS) items, Build and Buy items, or gameplay. Kits are sequestered to these specific focuses to differentiate them from Stuff Packs, the cheapest level ofThe SimsPack DLC, and to maintain their $5 price point. Stuff Packs, Game Packs, and Expansion Packs have long been a staple ofThe Simsfranchise, and the introduction of kits in 2021 was controversial upon announcement as obtaining all DLC forThe Sims 4is incredibly expensive.
This makes the Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits more susceptible to criticism by Simmers. Since these two new kits incorporate bothnew CAS Build and Buy itemsat the $5 price point per Kit, it would make sense for players to be critical of the release. These Kits have a similar number of total items as other Kits, lessening the blow. But the theming of these two Kits may also sway Simmer opinion in favor of these Kits.
New Kit Theming
Both the Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits are themed around two iconic Townies inThe Simsfranchise. The Secret Sanctuary Kit isinspired by fashion icon Bella Gothand the Casanova Cave Kit is inspired by known womanizer Don Lothario. Releasing these two Townie-themed Kits is a perfect celebration ofThe Simsfranchise and its twenty-fifth anniversary.
These Kits also coincide with a base game renovation enacted byThe Simsteam. All Townie and Residential Lots in Willow Creek and Oasis Springs were updated in a patch on January 15, includingthe Goth family home Ophelia Manorand Sultry Springside, The Caliente and Lothario household. With new items themed to these Townies, players have an incentive to check out these updates for themselves.
Still, the Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits could drastically changehowThe SimsKits are structured. The premise for both these Kits radically changes what can be included in this specific type of DLC, which could still trouble players despite the Kits’ referential nature.
Stuff and Game Packs Are Being Left Behind
The most notable impact that the Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits could have on the future of Kits is their price point and content. Kits tend to focus onadding one specific feature toThe Sims 4. Since Secret Sanctuary and Cassanova Cave have both CAS and Build and Buy items, a precedent has been set for multiple types of content to be included in Kits.
Because of this change, EA and Maxis may have to change the way Stuff Packs work. Thelatest Stuff Pack to hitThe Sims 4was Crystal Creations, released practically a year ago on June 20, 2025. Since then, EA and Maxis have released two Expansion Packs and thirteen Kits. A new Game Pack has not been released since Werewolves in June 2022. This heavy emphasis on Kits and movement away from Stuff and Game Packs shows that EA and Maxis are dedicating more time to smaller releases, but if multiple features can be included in one Kit, Stuff and Game Packs are at risk.
If Kits are becoming expanded, then Stuff and Game Packs deserve an increase in content as well.The Sims 4stuff and Game Packs have increased in qualityand content value sinceThe Sims 4first introduced DLC. Despite this increase, players have faced no additional cost. The same can be said of the Secret Sanctuary and Cassanova Cave Kits which retail at the Kit standard price of $5. So far, players have no concrete reason to be concerned by DLC price hikes, but the future is never certain.
More Townies Could Get Their Own Content
The Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits also hint at more fun headed toThe Sims 4. No other Kit, or any other form of DLC forThe Sims 4, has been themed around one of the game’s iconic Townies. While other DLC packs have reintroduced franchise icons, like the Paranormal Stuff Pack with Bonehilda, or expanded their powers likethe Grim Reaper and the new Life & Death Expansion Pack, a full pack or Kit dedicated to Townies has never been made.
2025 is one of the best years to introduce this concept as it is the twenty-fifth anniversary ofThe Simsfranchise, and it will be interesting to see if this self-referential content continues or is expanded upon in the future. Most of the game’s iconicTownies are part ofThe Sims 4base game, and because of this, players may grow frustrated with the monetization of base game features.
EA and Maxis must tread carefullyif they dedicate more DLC to Townies.The Simsteam’s approach of adding iconic Townies from previous installments into new packs has been solid so far, but expanding on the Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits into full-pack territory for Townies probably isn’t a great idea. The Secret Sanctuary and Casanova Cave Kits are now available for purchase forThe Sims 4today.
