Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
The Sims 4 burglar
The Sims The Sims 4 Marketplace is coming with paid mods – because that's definitely what fans of EA's life sim want
Adopt Me codes
Simulation Games Adopt Me codes (March 2026) for free Bucks and more
Ditto waits to transform at the Pokemon Pokopia release time.
Pokemon When is the Pokemon Pokopia release time?
Best free Steam games - Doom Eternal image showing a large armored enemy with a gun for an arm
Action Games 25 Best free Steam games you can play in 2026
Steam sale: a screenshot of a collection games in a Steam library
Games Steam Sale dates 2026: When is the next Steam sale?
Marathon Rook scavenger frame cinematic UESC robots
FPS Games Marathon release time and when you can play
Team Fortress 2 soldier holding two grenades
Action Games 25 Best free PC games to play in 2026
Captain America in the Marvel Rivals 'Stars Aligned' launch date trailer.
Games The 25 best free games you can play right now
Two Point Museum - a dinosaur bone display
Simulation Games The 15 best simulator games to play in 2026
The Sims 4 tattoo artist career
The Sims The Sims 4 Marketplace sparks angry fan reactions and comparisons to paid Fallout and Skyrim mods
Sky: Children of the Light screenshot of three figures playing different instruments
Games The best free Switch games available right now in 2026
The Sims 5 Project Rene: a purple screenshot of the the upcoming game.
Simulation Games Project Rene: Everything we know about the future of The Sims
The Sims 4 screenshot of the Enchanted by Nature expansion pack which shows a fairy in a yellow outfit and other mythical creatures standing underneath trees
The Sims The best Sims 4 expansion packs to buy right now in 2026
Witchbrook screenshot of a library in the magical college with witches flying on brooms
Simulation Games Witchbrook: Everything we know so far about Chucklefish's magical new life sim
Starfield
RPGs Starfield reportedly gets its long-rumored PS5 release next month, ending two years of Xbox exclusivity for the RPG
  1. Games
  2. Simulation
  3. The Sims 4

When does The Sims 4 become free and how do I claim it?

News
By Hope Bellingham published 17 October 2022

The Sims 4 is about to go free to play

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The Sims 4
(Image credit: EA Games)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

The Sims 4 goes free to play tomorrow, which means you can play the base game for absolutely nothing - here's how you can claim it. 

As announced last month, The Sims 4 is going free to play tomorrow on October 18, 2022. This means that players can download The Sims 4 base game for free and just purchase the expansions and kits they want to add to the base game like usual. 

This new way to play will be available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One. To get started, all you need to do is download The Sims 4 (from October 18) for free via the new EA app, Origin, or Steam. The same goes for the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store. 

You may like
  • The Sims 4 screenshot of the Enchanted by Nature expansion pack which shows a fairy in a yellow outfit and other mythical creatures standing underneath trees The best Sims 4 expansion packs to buy right now in 2026
  • The Sims 5 Project Rene: a purple screenshot of the the upcoming game. Project Rene: Everything we know about the future of The Sims
  • The Sims 4 burglar The Sims 4 Marketplace is coming with paid mods – because that's definitely what fans of EA's life sim want

If you've already been playing The Sims 4 for quite some time now, there is a small bonus for you - but you need to act fast to claim it as the offer ends once the game goes free to play tomorrow on October 18. To claim the Desert Luxe Kit, you must select the free add-on via The Sims 4 main menu.

There's also a bonus for those who have been playing The Sims 4 via EA Play or EA Play Pro. From October 18, EA Play subscribers will be able to claim the 'The Sims 4 EA Play Edition' which will include The Sims 4 Get to Work expansion, and EA Play Pro subscribers will be able to pick up the 'EA Play Pro Edition' which includes both the Get to Work expansion and The Sims 4 Toddler Stuff pack. 

This is just one of the exciting things Sims fans can look forward to experiencing tomorrow. On the same day that the base game goes free to play, October 18, EA is also holding the Behind The Sims Summit at 10 am PDT / 1PM EDT / 6PM BST. The event will be live-streamed tomorrow via YouTube and Twitch and will showcase what's in the works for The Sims series. 

Need to take a break from your virtual life? Take a look at our games like The Sims list for ideas on what to play next. 

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
TOPICS
Microsoft PlayStation Plus
Hope Bellingham
Hope Bellingham
Social Links Navigation
News Writer

After studying Film Studies and Creative Writing at university, I was lucky enough to land a job as an intern at Player Two PR where I helped to release a number of indie titles. I then got even luckier when I became a Trainee News Writer at GamesRadar+ before being promoted to a fully-fledged News Writer after a year and a half of training.  My expertise lies in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, cozy indies, and The Last of Us, but especially in the Kingdom Hearts series. I'm also known to write about the odd Korean drama for the Entertainment team every now and then.  

Read more
The Sims 4 screenshot of the Enchanted by Nature expansion pack which shows a fairy in a yellow outfit and other mythical creatures standing underneath trees
The best Sims 4 expansion packs to buy right now in 2026
 
 
The Sims 5 Project Rene: a purple screenshot of the the upcoming game.
Project Rene: Everything we know about the future of The Sims
 
 
The Sims 4 burglar
The Sims 4 Marketplace is coming with paid mods – because that's definitely what fans of EA's life sim want
 
 
The Sims 4 tattoo artist career
The Sims 4 Marketplace sparks angry fan reactions and comparisons to paid Fallout and Skyrim mods
 
 
The Sims
"The Sims has always been more than a game": Maxis says its values aren't changing as it works on "the next evolution"
 
 
How to download free PS5 games
How to download free PS5 games
 
 
Latest in Simulation
Fruit Piece Incremental codes
Fruit Piece Incremental codes (March 2026) and how to redeem them for free Beli, Scrolls, Rolls, and more
 
 
The Sims 4 tattoo artist career
The Sims 4 Marketplace sparks angry fan reactions and comparisons to paid Fallout and Skyrim mods
 
 
The Sims 4 burglar
The Sims 4 Marketplace is coming with paid mods – because that's definitely what fans of EA's life sim want
 
 
Turquoise
Subnautica's rare cozy moments meet my favorite Windows 98 screensaver in this relaxing new life sim
 
 
Stardew Valley goblin
ConcernedApe reveals he "completely scrapped" Stardew Valley goblin villages, and fans "just want" the axed feature now
 
 
Stardew Valley berry
Stardew Valley creator went through it 6 months before launch, and the game didn't come together until "the last moment"
 
 
Latest in News
Battlefield 6
Battlefield 6 designers say developers have a "responsibility" to make games intuitive
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gustave winces
"The first track spoils the whole game": Clair Obscur Expedition 33 dev confirms it was filling your ears with spoilers
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 took inspiration from a surprising anime - Soul Eater creator's Fire Force
 
 
A close-up of Grace talking with someone through glass in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem leads let actors re-do "technically" perfect scenes if it made them happy, says Grace actor
 
 
Kratos approaches Aphrodite's bedchamber in God of War 3
"The God of War sex mini-games were designed by women," which is why Aphrodite's bed looks "like a labia"
 
 
Alan Ritchson in Reacher season 3
Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Battlefield 6
    1
    "The fundamentals of FPS should drive our decision": Battlefield 6 designers say developers have a "responsibility" to make games intuitive
  2. 2
    "The first track spoils the whole game": Clair Obscur Expedition 33 devs confirm they were filling your ears with spoilers the entire time
  3. 3
    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reveals Donald Glover as the voice of Yoshi and more new casting in a star-spanning trailer that sends the entire Mushroom Kingdom to another planet
  4. 4
    Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
  5. 5
    Clair Obscur Expedition 33 took inspiration from a surprising anime - Soul Eater creator's Fire Force: "Because it was a JRPG, we tried to find a mix"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...