Sims 4 Players Frustrated by New Expansion Pack Advertisement

Sims 4 Players Sims 4 fans are expressing their frustration over a recent ad promoting the game's latest expansion pack. The issue isn't with the content of the ad itself but rather with how it's being displayed—as a pop-up on the game's launch screen—which has annoyed many dedicated players.

The newly announced expansion, titled "Life & Death," is set to launch on October 31, just in time for Halloween. This pack will introduce exciting features like controlling ghostly Sims and enhancing their supernatural abilities. It also adds a new Bucket List feature for living Sims, allowing them to earn extra lifetime rewards. Players who pre-order or purchase the expansion by December 12 will receive exclusive items, including the Lasting Legacy Family Portrait, the Mournful Melodies Music Box, and the Plumed Elegance Mask.

However, these exclusive rewards have become the focus of controversy due to the way they're being promoted. Many fans are upset about the Macabre Mementos ad that has been appearing as a pop-up on the game's launcher. As pointed out by a player on Reddit with the username Rainbow-Elephant3445, these rewards are already prominently displayed on the main menu, making the additional pop-up feel unnecessary and intrusive. This isn't the first time The Sims 4 has faced backlash for aggressive advertising; earlier this year, the game introduced a pulsing button on the interface that redirected players to its DLC store.

Divided Reactions to Sims 4 Pop-Up Ad

While some players are voicing their dissatisfaction, not everyone is entirely opposed to the pop-up ads. A few community members believe these ads might actually be useful, helping to inform players about pre-order rewards that they might otherwise overlook. One commenter highlighted how some players missed out on the Sims 4 Happy at Home rewards program, which launched in June, despite the visible promotional images and links on the game's menu. That program offered in-game furniture items as login rewards, like an exclusive dartboard and a single-person bar.

Despite these perspectives, the overwhelming sentiment among players is a desire to see fewer in-game pop-up ads from EA in the future. Since its launch in 2014 as a full-priced game, The Sims 4 transitioned to a free-to-play model in 2022, relying on the steady release of expansion packs and content updates to sustain its longevity. Though the base game is now free, some players remain disappointed that they're seeing ads in a game where they still spend money on premium content, with one user even admitting that the ad has discouraged them from purchasing the new "Life & Death" expansion.